Hull KR beat defending champions Wigan 24-6 in a pulsating Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday to complete a first treble for the club.

They became only the fifth side to win a Grand Final – adding the top domestic accolade to their Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield triumphs.

Orchestrated by the irresistible Mikey Lewis, Rovers built an early lead and withstood an inevitable fightback.

Joe Burgess soared over for his second try in the final minutes after intercepting a desperate pass from Harry Smith to cap a brilliant Rovers display.

Wigan failed to take their early chances and from the moment Lewis jinked audaciously through for the opener midway through the opening period, Rovers were in charge.

Burgess added Rovers' second, both tries coming during a period of numerical advantage after Brad O'Neill was sin-binned for a tip-tackle.

Hull KR led 10-2 at the interval.

Smith gave Wigan hope in the second half but Jez Litten's effort shortly after the hour mark all but sealed a richly deserved win for Rovers, with Burgess adding gloss to the scoreline in the dying moments.

Hull KR are the fifth team in the Super League era, which started in 1996, to win the treble.

 

Challenge Cup 🏆
League Leaders' Shield 🏆
Super League 🏆

Hull KR - treble completed! 👏 pic.twitter.com/US01GLajf7

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 11, 2025

 

Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella said his team had "dodged two bullets" during a nervous start before finding their groove.

"The club got relegated nine years ago and we've just won a treble," he told the BBC.

"Bonkers.

"Credit goes to the people at the top of the club who have stuck by it through thick and thin. They could have easily just walked away and said 'This is someone else's job', but they did the complete opposite.

"I've been here for six years and the turnaround in that time has been astronomical, so I'm just so proud."

 

CHAMPIONS 🏆#UpTheRobins 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/MRvtTBDmZE

— Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) October 11, 2025

 

Wigan won the treble last season but have finished the 2025 campaign trophyless.

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet said Hull KR deserved their win.

"Sometimes I think these things are written in the stars and this season belongs to them," he said.

Bath fended off a spirited comeback from Gloucester on Saturday to beat their local rivals 38-17, extending their perfect start to the Prem season.

British and Irish Lions players Finn Russell and Will Stuart were in action for the first time this season as the champions made it three wins out of three.

Captain Russell's faultless kicking supplied 13 points for Bath, who led 28-7 at the break after a dominant first half.

The home side scored first-half tries through Tom de Glanville, Tom Dunn, Ollie Lawrence and Ewan Richards.

Gloucester crossed three times through Will Joseph, Ollie Thorley and Ben Loader – the latter two coming early in the second half when Russell was off the field – to close to 28-17.

The Scottish international fly-half was shown a yellow card in the 49th minute for kicking the ball away from Tomos Williams's grasp at the back of a ruck.

But Russell returned to kick his sole penalty of the contest before converting Richards' second try.

"We're very happy with that, I thought our first 20 minutes were excellent," Bath head coach Johann van Graan told the BBC.

"We were clinical, we kept on turning them around, we had control, we scored some fantastic tries."

 

FULL TIME

🛀🏻 38 - 17 🍒 | #BATvGLO pic.twitter.com/ae98md0kHa

— Gloucester Rugby 🍒 (@gloucesterrugby) October 11, 2025

 

Northampton, Prem champions in 2024, defeated last season's runners-up Leicester 32-26 in a pulsating East Midlands derby.

Bolstered by the return of Lions Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell and Tommy Freeman, the Saints outscored the Tigers by five tries to two, with France international Anthony Belleau scoring two off the bench.

Bristol earned a hard-fought 18-14 victory against West Country rivals Exeter at Ashton Gate despite a 20-minute red card for Scotland international Tom Jordan.

The home side, who trailed 14-8 at the interval, triumphed with tries from Bill Mata and Gabriel Oghre. Sam Worsley kicked a penalty and a conversion, with Jordan adding a penalty.

 

Bath land the killer blow to end any Gloucester comeback hopes 🥊 pic.twitter.com/ASt3FlbRLq

— PREM Rugby (@premrugby) October 11, 2025

 

Super Rugby will mark its 30th anniversary next year with the first of 77 matches kicking off on February 13, officials said on Thursday, while tweaks were made to its finals format.

The Crusaders open the season against the Highlanders in Dunedin after securing their 13th title with a 16-12 victory over the Chiefs this year.

"Thirty years on from the first Super Rugby season, the competition continues to deliver what makes it special – world-class players, high-octane rugby and a connection to communities right across the Pacific," said Super Rugby chief Jack Mesley.

The Power continues 😤

30 years. 30 Seasons. Our 2026 fixtures have just dropped 👏

Head over to our website for full fixture list 👉 https://t.co/m2IdNGkFgZ#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/MWDeGjBOTv

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) August 28, 2025

Each of the 11 teams in New Zealand and Australia's top club competition will play 14 matches across a 16-round regular season.

That is followed by a six-team finals series, which comes with a tweak to the "lucky loser" format.

Instead of being penalised one seeding, as they were last year, the highest-ranked losing team from the qualifying finals will now progress as fourth seed.

That will ensure they play away from home in the semifinals and final, should they qualify – this year the top-ranked Chiefs were beaten in a qualifying final but still got to host a semi.

The competition has also brought back its "Super Round", where all teams descend on the same city for a bumper weekend of five matches.

It will be held from April 24-26 in Christchurch to mark the opening of the One New Zealand Stadium, a replacement for Lancaster Park which was damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and demolished in 2019.

Queensland produced a rousing performance for skipper Cameron Munster as they upset New South Wales 24-12 in Sydney to claim the State of Origin decider on Wednesday.

Tom Dearden bagged two tries as the Maroons clinched the best-of-three series in front of 80,256 fans.

It was the 25th time Queensland had lifted the shield after they thwarted the Blues' title defence.

Favourites NSW had controlled much of the opening two games, but were left stunned by the physicality of Queensland who ran rampant to lead 20-0 at the interval.

Queensland were forced to defend in the second-half, but were never seriously threatened as they won for the ninth time out of the last 11 deciders.

It was an emotional triumph after the sudden passing of Munster's father at the weekend.

"It probably went our way a little bit, but our group worked really hard tonight," said Munster, who was in tears at the finish and consoled by players from both teams.

It was a disappointing start to the tenure of returning coach Laurie Daley, who was previously at the New South Wales helm from 2013-17.

"We weren't good enough and at the end of the day we probably didn't react well to their defence," Blues star Nathan Cleary said.

The series had major momentum shifts with the Blues dominating the first game in Brisbane before the Maroons forced a decider after a thrilling 26-24 victory at the neutral venue of Perth last month.

A fiery contest was expected and bone-crunching tackles marked the tense early exchanges.

Queensland's hardnosed defence held firm and the visitors hit the scoreboard when Valentine Holmes converted a penalty to continue his superb goal-kicking this series.

The pumped-up Maroons capitalised on their period of dominance when debutant Gehamat Shibasaki delivered a slick offload to Xavier Coates, who dived into the left corner.

The home team watched on in despair in the 26th minute when Dearden waltzed under the goal posts unopposed after the Blues' defence was caught napping.

Queensland's brilliant first-half was complete when hooker Harry Grant barrelled past NSW's disjointed defence.

The Maroons remained wary, having faded badly in the previous two games.

Their nerves were heightened when Stephen Crichton finally got the Blues on the board when he crossed over in the 55th minute.

But Dearden added a second try to clinch the result.

The Lonergan brothers will look to help the ACT Brumbies pull off another improbable win over the British & Irish Lions on Wednesday, 12 years after cheering from the terraces as the Super Rugby team stunned the touring side in Canberra.

Scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan, 27, captains the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium while his 25-year-old brother Lachlan, capped eight times for Australia, starts at hooker against Andy Farrell's men.

The Brumbies became the first provincial team to beat the Lions in 16 years when World Cup-winning coach Jake White orchestrated a 14-12 win over Warren Gatland's side in 2013.

"I still remember it. I think I was sitting over there somewhere when I was a little fella," Ryan Lonergan told reporters on Tuesday, gesturing at the southern end of Canberra Stadium.

"Pretty sure (Lachlan) was probably eating a pie or something.

"When we got up over the Lions, (it was) such a memorable moment even as a fan.

"So to be able to do it tomorrow as a player (would be) super special and the boys are really excited."

The Brumbies draw pride from their record against the Lions.

In 2001, they came close to beating Graham Henry's side with only a late Matt Dawson conversion lifting the Lions to a 30-28 win.

Stephen Larkham was assistant coach to White during the 2013 upset and as the Brumbies' current head coach will guide a similarly understrength team on Wednesday.

Most of their best players are at the Wallabies camp with Joe Schmidt, preparing for the July 19 series-opener against the Lions in Brisbane.

One Wallaby will be starting for the Brumbies, though, just three days after coming off the bench in the 21-18 win over Fiji in Newcastle.

The abrasive Tom Hooper will be starting blindside flanker, while his 21-year-old brother Lachlan, also a loose forward, has a chance to make his Brumbies debut off the bench.

"Hoops, he's a machine," Lonergan said of the 24-year-old Wallaby.

"So, I'm sure he probably would have played 80 (minutes) and he would have been keen to come back and play.

"Special night for him as well to be able to play alongside his brother."

Long Australia's best-performing team in Super Rugby, the Brumbies will be tasked with softening up a Lions selection that may be the closest to Farrell's side for the first test.

On paper, the Brumbies are massively outgunned, but their players have taken note of how the lightly regarded New South Wales Waratahs proved disruptive in a 21-10 defeat by the Lions in Sydney on Saturday.

"Nobody gave them a shot and they made it a really uncomfortable night for the lads," said Lonergan.

"They went really hard at the breakdown .... sort of made a mess of it there and if you can do that and disrupt their game a bit, I think it goes a long way to putting yourself in the fight."

Australia-born Mack Hansen says lining up for the British and Irish Lions on the wing against his old club ACT Brumbies on Wednesday will be a "pinch-me" moment.

The 27-year-old, whose mother is Irish, grew up in Canberra and spent three seasons with the Super Rugby club before a move to Connacht in 2021.

A test call-up followed from Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, now in charge of the Lions, and Hansen has not looked back.

He has started two of the Lions three games in Australia so far and is set to come off the bench against the Brumbies, Australia's strongest provincial side although they are without a slew of top players on Wallabies duty.

"It's incredible," said Hansen of being back in Canberra.

"It is a bit of a pinch-me moment -- not in my wildest dreams could I imagine I would be back here playing for the Lions, so it is very special.

"I've got about 30 friends or family coming, I've had people coming out the woodwork asking for tickets for a while now."

Hansen will come face-to-face with "two of my best mates" in Ryan and Lachlan Lonergan, who are both in the Brumbies starting XV.

"I haven’t played against them in a while so it will be a nice switch-up," said Hansen.

"It will be an interesting experience, I don't know how I will feel until I'm out on the field."

Scrum-half Ryan Lonergan is Brumbies captain for the day and said it would be "super special" to face-off against his boyhood friend.

"We’ve been great mates since we're about 12 really," he told reporters, adding that he was proud of what Hansen had achieved.

"We had a pretty set back three here at the time and he just took a stab and went overseas and we're all happy for him."

The Lions won their two opening tour games with ease, crushing Western Force 54-7 and the Queensland Reds 52-12, but they met resistance from the NSW Waratahs in a grinding 21-10 victory.

Farrell has named a strong side led by Maro Itoje to face the Brumbies, with Tommy Freeman and James Lowe starting on the wings.

Departing Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said the team could claim a future Super Rugby Pacific title despite losing in the final for the third season in a row with Saturday's 16-12 defeat by the Crusaders.

McMillan, who has been in charge for all three final losses, is leaving to take over as head coach of Irish side Munster but retains confidence in the players to one day deliver success.

"The consistency of our performances have been something to really relish," McMillan said. "I love these men and I know how hard they work and I'm confident that in the near future, they'll get across the line.

"The wheels are going to keep ticking over and we've got bloody good people in the organisation and, who knows, maybe a change of head coach might be what's needed to get the job done."

The loss in the final in Christchurch was the second in three seasons to the Crusaders for McMillan and his team, who were defeated in the 2024 edition by the Blues.

Saturday's defeat was by the narrowest margin of the three, with only four points separating the teams at the end of a tense encounter, in which Rivez Reihana kicked 11 points for the Crusaders.

"Everyone knows we have been to the final dance a number of times and not got the job done, but I'm at peace," McMillan said. "The disappointment will linger, but we can't change anything. It's done now.

"The reflection will be about remembering all the good stuff that happened. But I know that we are a tight group who feel the disappointment, who have ridden the highs.

"We will bounce back. The sun will rise in the morning, I think, here tomorrow, and life will continue.

"People probably don't realise how tough it is to just get to a final, and even tougher when you've been to a number and you haven't quite got the job done."

Rob Penney says he is "not sure yet" if he'll reapply as coach of the Crusaders despite earning redemption by steering them to the Super Rugby championship on Saturday.

The Crusaders went from missing the playoffs in 2024 under Penney to claiming the silverware with a grinding 16-12 win over Chiefs in Christchurch.

A 15th Super Rugby title for the competition's most successful team was a personal triumph for the veteran coach.

Penney oversaw 10 defeats from 14 games in his first year in charge as the Crusaders failed to reach the knockout stages for the first time in nine seasons.

The 61-year-old was retained for the second and final year of his contract despite widespread calls for him to be axed.

After Saturday's triumph, Penney was reluctant to commit to another campaign with the Christchurch-based side, telling reporters: "I'm not sure yet".

Pushed further, he would only say: "I'll just take time to see, you know, what falls out of the review."

A former head coach at the New South Wales Waratahs and with Irish club Munster, Penney said he was thankful that the Crusaders' management had handed him a lifeline.

"It would have been easy for them to tip me out and they didn't, so in some way, I've repaid a little bit of that faith," he said.

"It's now such a pleasure to be standing here representing this group.

"They're young men that just love this place and their commitment is total."

ROBERTSON'S REPLACEMENT

Penney succeeded Scott Robertson, who oversaw seven straight titles at the Crusaders before being appointed to coach New Zealand's All Blacks.

Penney's first season was marred by injuries to a number of the All Blacks in his squad, along with a run of close losses.

"This year we've been on the other side of the ledger, we've had some calls that have gone for us and we've had players available," he said.

"It's a lot of small margins but I knew if we got to the business end of the season, the right people would know how to do the right things and that was evident."

The Crusaders edged the Chiefs 16-12 in an intense Super Rugby Pacific final battle in Christchurch on Saturday to claim their 15th title in 30 years of the Southern Hemisphere competition.

The @crusadersrugby take the crown! 👑

What a Grand Final 🥵#SuperRugbyPacific #CRUvCHI #SRPGrandFinal pic.twitter.com/YaAVXp8Kaw

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 21, 2025

Hooker Codie Taylor scored a try and Rivez Reihana contributed 11 points from the kicking tee as the most dominant team in Super Rugby history got back to title-winning ways after missing the playoffs last season.

"We had a shocking year last year but we're back at the top," said flyhalf Reihana, who was named Player of the Match.

"Just so stoked to be a part of this team... lucky we've got some world-class players that we're able to rely on in those crunch moments."

The Chiefs, who were looking for a first title since 2013, scored first-half tries through George Dyer and Shaun Stevenson but were unable to register a point after the break and fell to defeat in the final for the third straight year.

The @crusadersrugby are the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Champions! 🏆#SuperRugbyPacific #CRUvCHI #SRPGrandFinal pic.twitter.com/oWN03VjaJn

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 21, 2025

"I think it was a classic final, two good teams going at it, small margins," said Chiefs skipper Luke Jacobson.

"I felt like we had some really good attack when we got into their half. We put some good pressure on them but we just didn't play enough footy down there."

The contest between two New Zealand heavyweights was predicted to be an arm-wrestle and so it proved with big collisions, a ferocious battle at the breakdown and accurate tactical kicking.

Crusaders skipper David Havili was sent to the sin bin in the 11th minute for a high tackle on Emoni Narawa and the Chiefs cashed in when prop Dyer crashed over for a converted try.

The lead lasted until the 26th minute when All Black Taylor broke off a maul on the 22 and raced down the touchline to open the scoring for the Crusaders.

What a try from Codie Taylor! 🤯#SuperRugbyPacific #CRUvCHI #SRPGrandFinal pic.twitter.com/oJ9JEG4pNt

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 21, 2025

Home flyhalf Reihana converted and kicked two penalties in six minutes around the half-hour mark to delight the sellout crowd and open up a 13-7 lead.

The Chiefs hit back just before the break when fullback Stevenson went over for a try in the corner, but Damian McKenzie failed to nail the conversion from wide out and the Crusaders retained a 13-12 lead at halftime.

A cheeky try from Stevenson before half time 💪#SuperRugbyPacific #CRUvCHI #SRPGrandFinal pic.twitter.com/4jobpcx30r

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 21, 2025

The physicality was unrelenting in the second half with McKenzie coming in for particular attention from the Crusaders and the slight fly-half missed a long-range penalty which would have put the Chiefs ahead in the 55th minute.

The Chiefs then held up Christian Lio-Willie over the line to repel the Crusaders after 25 phases of attack to keep the match a one-point affair.

McKenzie was caught in possession and stripped of the ball under the posts in the 66th minute but the Crusaders again came away without points as scrumhalf Noah Hotham was penalised for offside.

A dominant scrum earned the Crusaders a penalty seven minutes from time and Reihana slotted home the kick to score the first points of the second half and give his team enough of a cushion to extend their perfect home playoff record to 32 matches.

The Crusaders have now won 13 full editions of Super Rugby, including three in the last four years, as well as two New Zealand-only versions played in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid pandemic.

Damian McKenzie and the Chiefs are hoping it will be third time lucky when they face off against the mighty Crusaders in another all-New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific final in Christchurch on Saturday.

The All Blacks flyhalf has been on fire leading an explosive backline behind a rugged pack this year as the Chiefs set the pace in the competition and made the title decider for the third straight season.

The last two finals, however, ended in the bitterness of defeat – in 2023 to the Crusaders and last year to the Blues – to leave this generation of Chiefs without a title to add to the two won by Dave Rennie's team in 2012 and 2013.

There's some Grand Final experience on the field this weekend 👀

🆚 #CRUvCHI
🗓️ Saturday 21 June
⏰ 7:05pm NZST / 5:05pm AEST
🏟️ Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/dAHxiSaFPM

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 18, 2025

Clayton "Donk" McMillan has been the architect of the Hamilton-based franchise's success since the end of the Covid pandemic but he will take charge for the last time on Saturday before heading off to Irish province Munster.

"We've got a lot to play for and a lot of motivation," McKenzie said this week.

"Do it for Donk. Do it for the region. Do it for our fans and our families. We've been disappointed in the last few years where we haven't quite been able to to win a final."

The Chiefs should have plenty of support in the sell-out crowd at Christchurch Stadium even if the cowbells their fans have traditionally rung are banned on health and safety grounds.

That might not play too much on their minds but they will have to contend with the Crusaders' imposing home form in Super Rugby playoff matches over the last three decades, 31 wins and zero losses.

The Chiefs have won five of their last seven Super Rugby matches against the Crusaders, including both home and away this season, and McMillan is banking on form trumping history.

"We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," he said.

"We're one team that has had our fair share of success down there, but we know it's not going to be easy."

MAGIC OCCASION

While the Chiefs are unchanged from the semifinals, the Crusaders have been able to recall prop Tamaiti Williams to their all-test front row for what will be a hugely important battle of the forward packs.

Both teams boast high quality backlines as well as strong defences, so McKenzie's almost unerring place-kicking from anywhere in the opposition half could end up deciding which of New Zealand's two major islands the trophy ends up on.

Last time around it was tries aplenty 🤩

Never a dull moment when these two face-off 😤

It all comes down to this! Only one will walk away the winner 🏆

🆚 #CRUvCHI
🗓️ Saturday 21 June
⏰ 7:05pm NZST / 5:05pm AEST
🏟️ Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/b7GGqpqkdi

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 19, 2025

The Crusaders have won 12 titles, 14 if the regional Super Rugby competitions during the Covid era are counted, but missed the playoffs last year in coach Rob Penney's first season in charge.

The return of world-class fullback Will Jordan and a smattering of other top players sparked their run to the final this year and over the playoffs they have looked like the tough, unrelenting red machine of years past.

Saturday's match looks likely to be their last at the stadium they have called a temporary home for the 14 years since the 2011 earthquake wrecked Lancaster Park with the new indoor Te Kaha arena close to completion.

"We've got a group capable of winning," Penney said. "This is a one-off occasion. We're at home in front of our people. Last time we're at the stadium and it's just going to be such a magic occasion."

Crusaders will be bolstered by the return of All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams when they chase an eighth Super Rugby title in nine years in Saturday's final at home against Chiefs.

Williams injured his knee during the playoff win against Reds and missed last week's 21-14 semifinal win over Blues.

Crusaders are the most successful team in the competition's history with 14 titles and coach Rob Penney said having Williams back improves their chances of extending that record.

One last dance for 2025 😤

Who lifts the trophy Saturday night? 🏆

🆚 #CRUvCHI
🗓️ Saturday 21 June
⏰ 7:05pm NZST / 5:05pm AEST
🏟️ Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/0ba0VZuWKX

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 18, 2025

"He was on the cusp of being ready last week but it's the blessing of having a great squad," Penney said.

"George Bower has done an amazing job and he's unlucky not to be starting but Tamaiti has got himself back into selection and he's going to get the opportunity."

Williams is the only change in the forward pack. In the backs, wing Chay Fihaki suffered a concussion in the semifinal and is replaced on the left by Macca Springer.

"Macca has been training hard behind the scenes. You always say to your players an opportunity will come, be ready. Now it's come and he's ready."

The Chiefs lost to the Brumbies 37-17 in their semifinal in Hamilton, after being beaten by Blues in the first playoff round a week earlier, but progressed as the highest-ranked losers.

Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan named an unchanged starting XV for the final, featuring All Blacks fly-half Damian McKenzie, explosive hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho and back-row forward Luke Jacobson.

COWBELL BAN

"We've built real continuity across the season, and that will serve us well in Christchurch," said McMillan.

"The Crusaders have proven time and again that they know how to lift in finals footy.

"They're clinical, composed, and proud of their home record. We're ready for a good final fight."

The Crusaders have banned Waikato fans from clanging their trademark cow bells in the stands.

Waikato lies in the heart of New Zealand's farming country, and Chiefs fans are famous for wielding the noisy instruments.

Fellow Super Rugby side Hurricanes banned cowbells from their ground more than a decade ago.

Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge said the decision was made to make sure the game was enjoyable for fans.

"I'll be asking (staff) to melt them down at the gate, so seriously, leave them at home," he said.

McMillan said, with or without cowbells, the travelling fans would be important.

"We know there will be a loyal crew backing us in the stands. Our fans bring something special, and we feel that no matter where we are," McMillan said.

The sold-out Super Rugby final will be the last match played at the 18 000 capacity Apollo Projects Stadium, the Crusaders' temporary home since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake severely damaged Lancaster Park.

A new 30 000-seater stadium will open next year.

All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams has been recalled to the Crusaders team for Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific final in Christchurch against an unchanged Chiefs side.

The powerful tighthead missed last week's semifinal win over the Blues because of a knee problem but returns to join Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell in the front row, forcing George Bower back to the bench.

"Tamaiti is ready to go, he was on the cusp of being ready last week but it's the blessing of having a great squad," coach Rob Penney said.

"George Bower has done an amazing job and he's unlucky not to be starting but Tamaiti has got himself back into selection and he's going to get the opportunity."

Winger Chay Fihaki has been ruled out of the match by concussion so Macca Springer, who scored five tries in one game against the Western Force earlier this season, comes in on the left wing with Sevu Reece moving to the right.

"Macca has been training hard behind the scenes. You always say to your players 'an opportunity will come, be ready'. Now it's come and he's ready," Penney added.

For the Chiefs, All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown has not recovered from a collar bone injury so Daniel Rona will again partner Quinn Tupaea in the midfield outside Damian McKenzie.

The visitors will field their first-choice back row of Wallace Sititi, skipper Luke Jacobson and Samipeni Finau for what is likely to be a titanic clash up front.

"We've built real continuity across the season, and that will serve us well in Christchurch," said Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan, who will take charge of the team for the final time on Saturday.

"The Crusaders have proven time and again that they know how to lift in finals footy. They're clinical, composed, and proud of their home record. We're ready for a good final fight."

The Chiefs have finished runners-up for the last two seasons and will need to hand the Crusaders a first loss in 32 Christchurch playoffs going back to 1998 to win their first Super Rugby title since 2013.

"History is history, it is what it is and we're not even thinking about that," said Penney.

"We're just thinking about the contest ahead of us which is really exciting."

Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan is refusing to be overawed by the prospect of facing the Crusaders in their Christchurch stronghold when the teams face off in the Super Rugby Pacific final later this week.

The Crusaders have won 31 consecutive playoff matches on home soil in the competition over the last three decades and will take on the Chiefs on June 21 after handing the Blues a 21-14 defeat on Friday.

The Chiefs, who finished on top of the regular season standings, defeated the Brumbies 37-17 in the semifinals on Saturday to advance to a third consecutive decider, prompting McMillan to dismiss concerns over the Crusaders' home record.

"We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," he said. "We're one team that's had our fair share of success down there.

"We know it's not going to be easy. They've got a formidable record and they're a quality team and they demonstrated that (against the Blues).

"You've got to be at your best, you've got to take every opportunity that presents itself and the best team on the day will win.

"It's a hostile reception down there no matter when you go, first round of the year or the final. We're pretty accustomed to that and we can generate some energy off that."

The Chiefs' confidence will be boosted by the 35-19 win they secured over the Crusaders in May, although a defeat to the Blues in the first round of playoffs saw McMillan's side surrender their home field advantage in the final.

McMillan will send his players into the decider determined that they work as a team rather than as individuals to claim the title for the first time since 2013.

"We've got to embrace the opportunity that's directly in front of us and we've got to get down to get it done," he said. "There won't be any one (person) that will do that, it will be the collective.

"Our Achilles heel in the past has been that we've wanted something so bad that it becomes detrimental sometimes. You try a little bit too hard.

"All we have to do is back ourselves and do what we've done all year; play Chiefs rugby, work hard for each other, nail the small moments, apply enough pressure on the Crusaders that they feel that pressure.

"If you win enough of those, you give yourself enough of a chance of walking away with the title."

Coach Stephen Larkham did not believe his Brumbies side went into Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Chiefs in a negative frame of mind despite the team's dismal semifinal track record.

The Brumbies crashed out in the semifinals for the fourth season in a row as Larkham's side lost 37-17 to the Chiefs, who set up an all-New Zealand final against the Crusaders in Christchurch next week.

"Psychologically, I thought we were in a good place, I thought our preparation was really good to build into this game from the other games that we've played," said Larkham.

"I don't know if that was a factor. We certainly have spoken a lot to make sure that that doesn't come into it.

"It's hard to play away from home, whether it's in Australia or New Zealand. There is an advantage to the home side and I thought they played really well."

Larkham has been at the helm for three of the Brumbies' four semifinal losses, having also overseen a defeat at the hands of the Chiefs in 2023 ahead of last year's reversal against the Blues.

Those defeats prompted the former Wallaby to launch reviews into his team's operations and Larkham vowed to go through a similar process when the current season concludes after his side's clash with the British and Irish Lions next month.

"We'll go through the process of identifying, particularly in these last two games, what wasn't robust, what isn't good enough yet and spend enough time in the off-season to put us in a better position," he said.

"The British and Irish Lions game for us is around the corner. We'll have a short prep going into that. We'll run the same program that we've been running into this game, we'll just see if we can do it better."

Chiefs will not "have any fear" of playing next week's Super Rugby final against Crusaders in Christchurch, despite the home side's formidable record there.

The Chiefs advanced to a third successive grand final appearance with an accomplished 37-17 semifinal win over the Brumbies on Saturday.

After losing the 2023 decider to the Crusaders and last year's to the Blues, coach Clayton McMillan believes his team are ready to take the next step and lift the silverware for the first time since 2013.

Standing in their way on Saturday will be the competition's greatest side, who have never been beaten at home in Super Rugby knockout matches.

It all comes down to this 😤

Who will walk away Super Rugby Pacific Champions for 2025?

🆚 #CRUvCHI
🗓️ Saturday 21 June
⏰ 7:05pm NZST / 5:05pm AEST
🏟️ Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
🎟️ Tickets on sale Tuesday June 17#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/cQNnQAa7JU

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 15, 2025

The Crusaders are chasing a 13th full-season Super Rugby title and have won all 31 of their play-off matches in Christchurch dating back to 1996.

Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said he and his team will be unfazed as they plot their raid on the Crusaders home fortress.

"We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," McMillan told reporters after the semifinal victory.

"We're one team that's had our fair share of success down there but we still know it's not going to be easy.

"They've got a formidable record and they're a quality team."

After an EPIC round of Semi Finals, we are down to just two teams 🥵

Can you believe the Grand Final is upon us?! 🤩#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/u95MGu9LKJ

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 14, 2025

Under McMillan, the Chiefs have won three of their last five matches in Christchurch, all in the regular season, including last month's 35-19 victory when they fought back from 16 points down.

Since then the Crusaders have won six straight matches, including Friday's tense 21-14 semifinal takedown of the defending champions Blues.

McMillan says his team showed they have the mindset to win a big match with their pragmatic performance against the Brumbies.

All Blacks fly-half Damian McKenzie kicked six penalty goals as the Chiefs turned to forward control and territory to see off the Australian visitors.

"We've never shied away from the fact that we've been in the last two finals and haven't quite got the job done," McMillan said.

"We're under no illusion as to what it takes.

"But one of our Achilles heels in the past has been that we've wanted something so bad that it actually just becomes a little bit detrimental sometimes. You try a little bit too hard."

The final will be the last match of McMillan's five-year tenure before taking up the head coach post at Irish club Munster.

Chiefs fullback Shaun Stevenson is in doubt for the decider after failing a head injury assessment during the Brumbies match.

Damian McKenzie kicked 22 points as the Chiefs played near perfect playoff rugby to reach a third straight Super Rugby Pacific final with a convincing 37-17 win over the Brumbies in Hamilton on Saturday.

Emoni Narawa scored tries either side of halftime and Josh Jacomb also crossed but it was McKenzie's all-round game and almost perfect night from the kicking tee to punish Brumbies ill-discipline that proved the difference.

The Chiefs, runners-up for the last two years, will travel to Christchurch next week to play for the title against the Crusaders, who edged the reigning champion Blues 21-14 in Friday's first semi.

The @ChiefsRugby are off to the big dance!#SuperRugbyPacific #CHIvBRU pic.twitter.com/yzeHcqXetD

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 14, 2025

"Outstanding performance from the lads," said All Blacks flyhalf McKenzie, who kicked six penalties and two conversions.

"The Brumbies come out of the box fast, like we knew they would, and I just love the way we were really composed to stick to our game.

"We put the ball in front of our forwards, and obviously our set piece was great tonight. So when we got into the 22 we managed to come away with points most of the time."

The Brumbies had the better of possession and territory and also scored three tries but lost Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio to concussion in the 10th minute and spurned a few opportunities to kick for points when the game was still in the balance.

"We had to play close to a perfect game to come out here and get the result," said skipper Allan Alaalatoa.

"And we probably saw there in the second half that accuracy let us down. And off the back of that probably our discipline as well."

The visitors, hoping to become the first Australian team to win a Super Rugby playoff in New Zealand, scored the opening try through hooker Billy Pollard in the 15th minute off a trademark rolling maul.

The Chiefs were already a man down after Tupou Vaa'i had been sent to the sin bin for a high tackle but were back on level terms soon after the lock returned, Nawara picking up from the base of a ruck and going over unopposed.

Two McKenzie penalties put the home side ahead before Brumbies winger Corey Toole reined them in with a try from a Jack Debreczeni crosskick.

As good as it gets! 🤯

Corey Toole with an absolute BLINDER for his second of the night! 🤩#SuperRugbyPacific #CHIvBRU pic.twitter.com/F5uJPay7j1

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 14, 2025

Another couple of McKenzie three-pointers gave the Chiefs a 19-12 halftime lead and they retained it even after Toole beat two tacklers to go over in the corner for his second try.

Nawara grabbed his brace in the 47th minute and three more McKenzie kicks extended the lead to 32-17 going into the last quarter.

Narawa is UNSTOPPABLE 💪#SuperRugbyPacific #CHIvBRU pic.twitter.com/NWQxAbfwgQ

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 14, 2025

McKenzie got the assist when Jacomb went over in the 65th minute and the flyhalf made amends for missing the conversion - his only kicking blemish - by racing back and putting in a try-saving tackle on Brumbies fullback Tom Wright a minute later.

The visitors kept hammering away trying to snap their run of three successive semifinal losses but the Chiefs held firm to earn the trip to Christchurch, where the Crusaders are unbeaten in 31 playoff matches over three decades of Super Rugby.

Coach Rob Penney credited the Crusaders' management for their patience after guiding his team to the Super Rugby Pacific final with victory over the Blues on Friday, 12 months after missing out on the playoffs.

Penney led the Crusaders to a 21-14 win in Christchurch as Super Rugby's most dominant outfit extended their remarkable unbeaten run in playoff matches on home soil to 31 victories over the last three decades.

The win came a year after the Crusaders decided to stick with Penney despite his failure to qualify the team for the playoffs, and that decision has now paid off with a return to the series final.

"I will put a wee shout out to the management," said Penney. "Last year was a challenge and they were under the pump. They showed great courage in allowing me to have another one.

"And there may be a lesson in the future for some other people, that if they trust the coach in one year, you know, maybe they should let them carry on. If things turn around, great.

"But I just can't speak highly enough of the people that I work for. It's a wonderful organisation, as everyone knows, and it's a privilege and an honour."

Penney was appointed by the Crusaders having previously been sacked by the New South Wales Waratahs, where his 18-month spell in charge came to an end after his side lost the first five matches of their 2021 Super Rugby campaign.

He took over as Crusaders coach in June 2023 when Scott Robertson, who had led his team to seven consecutive Super Rugby titles, departed to take charge of the All Blacks.

Penney's side won four of 14 matches during his first season in charge, but the Crusaders go into Saturday's final having secured 11 regular season victories before sealing playoff wins over the Reds and the Blues.

The 61-year-old now stands on the cusp of his first Super Rugby title as a coach, with his team due to play either the Brumbies or the Chiefs in the decider.

"You'd have to say the Chiefs have been awesome all year and they'll be a massive challenge, but whoever comes out on top will be a massive challenge," he said of his team's potential opponents. "We've done nothing yet except get ourselves there."

Will Jordan scored two tries as the Crusaders recovered from an early deficit to edge the reigning champion Blues 21-14 and reach a 17th Super Rugby final in a match of rare intensity on Friday.

 

The @crusadersrugby have booked their ticket to the Grand Final! 🤩#SuperRugbyPacific #CRUvBLU pic.twitter.com/fhVeB8RpHw

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 13, 2025

 

The Blues hammered away at the home try line for more than six minutes after the hooter looking for a converted try to force overtime but came away empty-handed as the Crusaders' defence held firm and kept them on track for a 13th title.

A try from Tom Christie set the Crusaders on their way as they fought back from 14-0 down in the 21st minute to guarantee a return to their home fortress next week to face the Chiefs or Brumbies.

Neither the Chiefs nor Brumbies, who meet in the second semifinal on Saturday, will relish a trip to Christchurch, where the Crusaders are now unbeaten in 31 playoff matches over the three decades of Super Rugby.

"The Blues seriously hit us. Hell of a side. They were the champions and showed that tonight. We just managed to hold out," said All Blacks fullback Jordan.

"We knew the Blues weren't going to come down here and give it to us easy. It's finals footy, you find yourself in a bit of adversity and that's where you just try to take a step forward and embrace it."

The Blues, who had just scraped into the playoffs, made it clear that they would be looking to play an expansive game from the third minute when Beauden Barrett fired a cross-kick over to Caleb Clarke on the left wing.

 

Can’t say we didn’t fight pic.twitter.com/Qq4PcCzEd9

— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) June 13, 2025

 

The Crusaders snuffed out the danger that time but the visitors soon silenced the crowd when a raking AJ Ram kick resulted in a five-metre scrum and winger Mark Tele'a dived over in the corner for the opening try.

The home side were reduced to 14 men when Braydon Ennor was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle and centre Rieko Ioane went over under the posts to double the lead with a second try for the Blues.

The Crusaders cut the deficit soon after being returned to a full complement when openside flanker Christie forced his way over from close range after a series of his teammates had been repelled.

Blues prop Joshua Fusitu'a was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on All Blacks captain Scott Barrett three minutes later and the crowd was back to full voice just before the break when Jordan crossed for a converted try to level up the scores.

The Blues spurned a straightforward shot at goal from a 51st minute penalty before knocking on from the tap and being pinged by the referee at the resultant scrum.

The Crusaders then laid siege to the Blues line, turning down several potential shots at goal in favour of kicks to touch before Jordan played tight forward to finally force the ball over the line with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Flyhalf Rivez Reihana slotted his third conversion to take the lead out to 21-14 and the visitors' woes deepened when No 8 Hoskins Sotutu was sent to the sin bin minutes later, leaving them shorthanded for their late charge.

"Very tough. We started very well, we were able to play our game, then sort of let them back in and they were able to capitalise," said Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu.

"We showed a lot of courage in that last eight minutes, but it just wasn't enough today."

Defending champions the Blues are in bullish mood as they seek to end the Crusaders' ominous home play-off record in the Super Rugby semifinals on Friday.

The Blues were surprise 20-19 winners in their elimination match against the top-seeded Chiefs last weekend thanks to All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett's late conversion.

It set up a semifinal against the Crusaders in Christchurch, where the 14-time tournament winners have won 30 play-off matches and never lost.

"Yet," said Blues coach Vern Cotter when confronted with those numbers after the Chiefs game. "All I'm saying is... nothing lasts forever."

Cotter, the former Scotland and Fiji head coach and forwards coach of the Crusaders when they won titles in 2005 and 2006, continued his fighting talk this week.

"They're going to lose one day. When I was at Clermont we won 77 (home) games in a row and, in the end, the pressure was heavy," he said.

"One day we knew it was going to happen. They're on 30 and one day it's going to happen. Will it be this week? I don't know, but the boys will be up to push it as best they can."

The Crusaders are gunning for an eighth title in nine years after a poor 2024 season which saw them miss the play-offs entirely in coach Rob Penney's first year in charge.

They enter Friday's clash without All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams after he succumbed to a knee injury in the dominant 32-12 win over the Reds in their qualifying final.

Fellow All Black George Bower comes into the starting side.

LIFELINE

The Chiefs are aiming to bounce back from their loss to the Blues when they host the Brumbies on Saturday in Hamilton.

Their lifeline came courtesy of a new format for Super Rugby, where the three qualifying final winners, and the top-ranked loser, go through to the last four.

Chiefs lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi said they planned to capitalise.

"It was a weird Monday but coach (Clayton McMillan) came in and reminded us that we were top of the table coming into the finals, which gave us a lifeline and we can't waste it," Ah Kuoi said.

"We've got to be grateful that we're here and make sure we nail that opportunity now that we've been given this extra week."

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said his side was up to the challenge of facing the Chiefs, after they ended the Hurricanes' season in a high-scoring 35-28 win in Canberra.

"The boys can get a lot of confidence out of the way that we're playing," Larkham said.

"There's a lot of stats that show that we’re playing very good footy and we've also shown consistency throughout the season."

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said Wednesday his team were peaking at the right time and can upset the Chiefs in the Super Rugby semifinals.

 

The Brumbies have named an unchanged squad for Saturday's HUGE Semi-Final v Chiefs 😤

↳ Super Rugby Pacific Semi-Finals. Chiefs v Brumbies, Saturday from 4:30pm AEST. Every Match. Live & On Demand.#StanSportAU #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/gzPXazcwpt

— Stan Sport Rugby (@StanSportRugby) June 11, 2025

The Canberra-based side travel to Hamilton for the bumper clash on Saturday with an unchanged squad for the first time this season, spearheaded by a slew of Wallabies including Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper.

But they are battling the odds, having exited in the semifinals to New Zealand clubs in the last three years, while the Chiefs are unbeaten against them in four games.

Larkham said he was optimistic they can make the final, which will be in Canberra if they beat the Chiefs and the Blues topple the Crusaders in the other last-four clash.

"The boys are peaking at the right time. I thought they played really well on the weekend," he said, referring to their 35-28 takedown of the in-form Hurricanes in their elimination final.

"The selection is based on performance, but we also certainly want continuity going into the finals. And it's nice to have at this stage of the season.

"We'll make sure that we keep our emotions in check this week. The boys can get a lot of confidence out of the way that we're playing.

"There's a lot of stats that show that we're playing very good footy and we've also shown consistency throughout the season."

 

The @ChiefsRugby and @BrumbiesRugby have been here before 😮‍💨

The 2023 Semi Final was an arm wrestle to the finish line, check out the line-up!

What happens on Saturday night in Hamilton when the two sides meet again?#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/8or1fZHXRW

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 11, 2025

 

The Chiefs have been the standout club all season and are looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this year after a 20-19 defeat to the defending champion Blues last weekend.

Larkham said the Brumbies would not be "copying" the Blues' playbook, with his team "in a pretty good space in terms of our routine".

"We've got a plan this week in terms of some of the stuff that we've been building on through the year, and then some specific stuff for the Chiefs," he said.

"There's a few challenges. The Chiefs are different to the Hurricanes.

"We certainly want to make sure that we get the detail. We respect the opposition. We know what threats they bring."