The Crusaders celebrate winning the 2025 Super Rugby title. Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
The Crusaders will play more games at Christchurch's Addington Stadium before moving to the new Te Kaha ground.
The 2026 Super Rugby draw has been released and the defending champions will play three games at the city's "temporary stadium" which the Crusaders have used since 2012 following the Christchurch earthquake.
The Crusaders have matches at Addington in February, March and April against the Brumbies, Highlanders and Fijian Drua respectively.
Addington Stadium. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Easter weekend game against the Drua on Friday, 3 April, will mark the last at Addington Stadium and the 120th Super Rugby match at the Crusaders soon to be replaced home, which they've used for 14 years.
The Super Rugby Pacific season kicks off Friday, 13 February, with the Crusaders taking on the Highlanders in a southern derby in Dunedin, before Australia's oldest rivalry continues as the NSW Waratahs host the Queensland Reds.
On Saturday, 14 February, the Fijian Drua host Moana Pasifika in Lautoka, the Blues and Chiefs clash in Auckland and there's a throwback to the Western Force's first-ever Super Rugby game as they take on the ACT Brumbies in Perth.
A Super Rugby game will be played in Tonga for just the second time when Moana Pasifika host the Chiefs at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa in April.
Samisoni Taukei'aho of the Chiefs on the charge. Photo: Photosport
Super Round then makes its return over the Anzac weekend in late April, with 10 teams heading to Christchurch for the first major event at Christchurch's roofed Te Kaha Stadium.
The Blues are yet to confirm the venues for their home matches against the Chiefs, Crusaders, Moana Pasifika, Fijian Drua, Highlanders and Hurricanes.
The Blues, who played all their home games at Eden Park last season, have been reviewing their home venue arrangements. The NZ Herald reported last week that the franchise had decided to host two of its seven home games at Mt Smart Stadium, where the Warriors NRL and Auckland FC A-League teams play.
Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley said fan feedback helped lead to a tweak of the 'lucky loser' rule used in last year's finals.
Last season, the 'lucky loser' was penalised one seeding, which saw the the top-ranked Chiefs beaten in a qualifying final but still host a semi-final the following weekend.
Next year, the highest ranked losing team from the qualifying finals will progress as fourth seed, ensuring they play away from home in the semi-finals and also the grand final should they qualify.
The draw features 77 round robin matches held across a 16-round regular season before culminating in the six-team finals series.
Mesley hopes the competition can continue to attract new fans.
"In 2025 we saw Super Rugby Pacific take another big step forward, with more fans, more drama, and more unexpected results. That success has set the stage for an even bigger year in 2026 as we mark a milestone in Super Rugby," Mesley said.
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