Since its launch in 1996, Super Rugby has seen its fair share of changes, but one thing that’s never shifted is the fierce rivalry between the top clubs across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Pacific Islands.
The next season promises plenty of storylines, with the usual suspects from New Zealand leading the charge, the Aussies looking to close the gap, and the Pacific teams bringing flair and unpredictability.
If you’re new to the world of Super Rugby, you need to know a few things first to get you up to speed. The tournament was started in 1996 and is a rugby union tournament, not rugby league. It’s made up of 11 teams, including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Pacific Islands. The 2025 season is already over, so we’re looking forward to the 2026 tournament. Here are some details about the previous season:
The Crusaders won the last tournament, beating the Chiefs 16-12.
While the exact schedule is still to come, Super Rugby Pacific typically kicks off in late summer and wraps up with finals just as winter begins. This year it was over June/July.
Everybody has their own favourites, but the Crusaders are generally the most popular. They’ve dominated for years, winning thirteen titles and successfully defending the crown six times.
Teams face each other across fourteen rounds, followed by a finals series featuring the top six sides. The opening knockout round sees 1st vs 6th, 2nd vs 5th, and 3rd vs 4th, with the three winners plus the highest-seeded loser moving into the semi-finals. From there, it’s a straight knockout to the grand final.
If you want to get a low-down of how the tournament has been doing in the last few years, here’s a list of the past winners. Unsurprisingly, New Zealand dominated the competition since day one, winning twenty-one of the twenty-eight completed tournaments. The Australian sides have picked up some more wins since the South African teams stopped participating, who won three tournaments before moving on to the Northern Hemisphere leagues. Here are the stats from the last 10 tournaments:
2025: Crusaders defeated Chiefs 16–12
2024: Blues defeated Chiefs 41–10
2023: Crusaders defeated Chiefs 25–20
2022: Crusaders defeated Blues 21–7
2019:Crusaders defeated Jaguares 19–3
2018: Crusaders defeated Lions 37–18
2017: Crusaders defeated Lions 25–17
2016: Hurricanes defeated Lions 20–3
2015: Highlanders defeated Hurricanes 21–14
2014: Waratahs defeated Crusaders 33–32
Here’s a current list of the teams that participate in the Super Rugby tournament:
Blues
ACT brumbies
Chiefs
Crusaders
Fijian drua
Western force
Highlanders
Hurricanes
Moana pasifika
Queensland reds
New South Wales Waratahs
When you’re really getting into the sport, it helps to also know some fun facts about the individuals playing and some of the records they’ve set. For example, Gavin Lawless holds the record for most points in a single match with 50 in 1997, while Robert du Preez came close with 38 in 2018. Sean Wainui and Macca Springer share the record for most tries in a game, both scoring five. As for team performances, the Crusaders’ 96–19 demolition of the Waratahs in 2002 remains the highest score ever recorded.
Like most sports, you can place wagers on the outcomes of matches, but if you want to place a successful bet, then you need to know a thing or two about how favourites are chosen and how the odds work:
Bookmakers’ favourites have had mixed success over the years. From 2022 to 2025, the success rate of favourites ranged from a high of 84 per cent down to just 69 per cent last year, the lowest figure in a decade. The Crusaders remain the most reliable when starting as favourites, winning roughly 81 per cent of their games in that position. The Western Force actually follows closely behind statistically, though their sample size is much smaller.
In general, teams with shorter odds deliver on expectations. Those priced under 1.50 tend to win at the rate you’d expect, but as odds drift beyond that range, results become more unpredictable. That unpredictability is what makes Super Rugby such an exciting competition to bet on; upsets happen more often than you’d think
Research is always key to making a sound bet, especially when it comes to Super Rugby. If you’re interested in getting in on the betting action, then you’ve got to stay on top of all the information surrounding the Super Rugby games, teams, players and more. To get the latest Super Rugby odds, check out Betcha. Here you’ll find all the information you need, including the latest odds to help you bet wisely on the upcoming matches.
Super Rugby Pacific continues to deliver thrilling rugby and betting opportunities every season. Whether you’re backing the Crusaders to go again, hoping for a Brumbies breakthrough, or taking a chance on the Drua to pull off something special, the next season might be another cracker!
