NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar has given his thumbs up to the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific draw that was officially released on Wednesday, 20 August.
The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season is set to be a blockbuster on many fronts.
The season will celebrate 30 years of Super Rugby that began in 1996.
It will also see the return of ‘Super Round’ on Round 11 where Christchurch will host five games over three days on the ANZAC Day weekend from 24-26 April at the new One NZ Stadium built after the 2011 earthquakes in Christchurch.
The NSW Waratahs feature in Super Round, playing against the home side Crusaders who won 2025 Super Rugby Pacific title.
Overall, key NSW Waratahs fixtures in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific draw include:
- Seven home games at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park, Sydney – against the Queensland Reds (Round 1), Fijian Drua (Round 2), Hurricanes (Round 4), Blues (Round 6), Moana Pasifika (Round 10), Western Force (Round 12), and Brumbies (Round 15).
- Seven away games against the Queensland Reds (Round 5) in Brisbane, the ACT Brumbies (Round 7) in Canberra, the Chiefs (Round 8) in Hamilton, the Crusaders (Round 11) to open ‘Super Round’ in Christchurch, the Highlanders (Round 13) in Dunedin, the Fijian Drua (Round 14) in Suva and Western Force (Round 16) in Perth.
- A six-week break between two Bye rounds – Round 3, with the second in Round 9.
Asked for impressions on the draw, McKellar said: “The reality is, you play half your games at home, half away. You play the Australian teams and Fiji twice.
“It's always nice to have your Bye rounds spread out … we get one in week three. We just crack up with it, but overall, we're, we're pleased with the draw.”
McKellar has not yet had the time to plan for the 2026 draw but added: “We'll look at possibilities to stay on the road together, creating our own little tour.”
NSW Waratahs Memberships: Support the NSW Waratahs throughout 2026 Super Rugby Pacific by becoming a member. To do so click HERE
Rd 1 - Fri 13 Feb: v Queensland Reds at Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 7.35pm AEDT
Rd 2 – Fri 20 Feb: v Fijian Drua at Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 7.35 pm AEDT
Rd 3 - BYE
Rd 4 – Fri 6 March: v Hurricanes at Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 7.35pm AEDT
Rd 5 – Sat 14 March: v Reds at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 7.35pm AEDT
Rd 6 – Sat 21 March: v Blues at Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 7.35pm AEDT
Rd 7 – Fri 27 March: v ACT Brumbies at GIO Stadium, Canberra at 7.35pm AEDT
Rd 8 – Sat 4 April: v Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton at 5.05pm AEST
Rd 9 - BYE
Rd 10 – Fri 17 April: v Moana Pasifika at Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 7:35pm AEST
Rd 11 – Super Round – Fri 24 April: v Crusaders at One NZ Stadium, Christchurch at Time TBC
Rd 12 – Fri 1 May: v Western Force at Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 7:35 pm AEST
Rd 13 – Sat 9 May: v Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 2:35pm AEST
Rd 14 – Sat 16 May: v Fijian Drua, at HFC Stadium, Suva at 2:35 pm AEST
Rd 15 – Fri 22 May: v ACT Brumbies at Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 7:35 pm AEST
Rd 16- Sat 30 May: v Western Force at HBF Park, Perth at 7:35 pm AEST
