The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season starts on 13 February 2026, with the opening round kicking off in Dunedin and other matches across Australia and the Pacific on the same date.

Key details

  • Official start date: 13 February 2026.
  • Opening fixtures: Include Highlanders vs Crusaders in Dunedin and Australian derbies on the same day.
  • Season window: The regular season runs from 13 February 2026 through to 30 May 2026, followed by the finals.

Quick Scoop style notes

If you’re tracking “when does super rugby start 2026” as a trending or forum- style topic, you can safely anchor your content on:

  • The confirmed start date: 13 February 2026.
  • The fact that it’s the 30th anniversary season of Super Rugby, with a full draw released and special rounds (like Super Round in Christchurch) scheduled later in the season.
  • Opening night narrative: season launching under the roof in Dunedin with Highlanders–Crusaders as a marquee fixture.

In forum discussions, you’ll likely see fans framing it as “Super Rugby 2026 kicks off 13 Feb, with Dunedin under the roof to start the 30-year celebration.”

TL;DR: Super Rugby 2026 starts on 13 February 2026. Bookmark that date if you’re planning previews, fantasy drafts, or forum “latest news” threads around the season launch.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.