2026 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Review: Round 1 2026
2026 Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1 Summary
Round one of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki saw Matatū shine before record a crowd of 11,793 fans at One NZ Stadium, beating the Chiefs Manawa. While the Blues picked up where they left off last season with a resounding victory against the Hurricanes Poua.
Match Report: Blues 42-7 Chiefs Manawa
Watch Highlights: Blues v Chiefs Manawa | Sky Super Rugby Aupiki | Round 1, 2026
Blues dominate in commanding six-try victory
The defending champions' Blues 42-7 victory wasn’t without stress or casualties. Black Ferns lock Maama Vaipulu was sent off in the 38th minute after striking Poua lock Sam Taylor. The offence was upgraded from a yellow to a red card.
Still, the Blues prevailed six tries to one, banking a four-try bonus point by halftime.
It only took World Rugby Most Promising Player of the Year in 2025, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, five minutes to make an impression following a Poua turnover. Holly Ray Mete-Renata linked with debutant Sariyah Paitai, who burst from halfway to 22 before finding Sorensen-McGee on her inside. Paitai has only played four games for Counties Manukau in the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) but scored three tries.
The Blues doubled the lead in the 13th minute with Sorensen-McGee turning provider for Mererangi Paul. Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant had sparked the attack.
Despite being overpowered at the scrum and struggling around the breakdown, the Poua were spirited. Captain Sam Taylor (14 tackles) is an outstanding prospect and made a scything bust to score after 17 minutes. Renee Holmes’ first stint at first five-eighth showed promise. Otago veteran Greer Muir (21 tackles) battled manfully, and in her limited opportunities, Ayesha Leti-I’iga was demanding and elusive.
However, the Poua didn’t build enough sustained pressure to pose a serious threat. Black Ferns centre Sylvia Brunt barging through for the third try, Black Ferns hooker Atlanta Lolohea showed the Blues forwards can move like backs, supporting a break from the dynamic Taufa Bason.
It took the Blues 28 minutes to crack it in the second half. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u was rewarded after slick interplay with Sorensen-McGee, Paul, and Maia Ross (5 lineout wins). Ross was also involved in the build-up to a try from league returnee Tafito Lafaele.
The Blues have won 13 of their last 15 matches.
Blues: 42 (Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Mererangi Paul, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Tafito Lafaele, Atlanta Lolohea tries; Sorensen-McGee 7 cons) Hurricanes Poua: 7 (Sam Taylor try; Renee Holmes con) HT: 28-7
Match Report: Matatū 52, Chiefs Manawa 26
Watch Highlights: Matatū v Chiefs Manawa | Sky Super Rugby Aupiki | Round 1, 2026
A record-breaking afternoon for women's domestic rugby with 11,793 fans at One NZ Stadium, Christchuch
It was a record-breaking afternoon at Te Kaha/One New Zealand Stadium. A bumper crowd of 11,793 watched the 2025 runners-up Matatū crush Chiefs Manawa 52-26.
It was the first time in Aupiki history that the visitors conceded a half-century. Their previous biggest defeat was 36-21 to the Blues in 2025.
Meanwhile, Matatū surpassed both their record score and their biggest margin of victory, which were against the Hurricanes Poua in 2025: 43-24 and 29-7.
Ironically, one of the Matatū headline writers was former Hurricanes Poua openside, Elinor-Plum King. The Black Ferns XV representative joined Chey Robins-Reti as the only other Matatū player to score a hat-trick with tries in the 21st, 70th, and 73rd minutes. Plum-King had a stats sheet that read like a winning lotto ticket. She ranked in the top ten for carries (9), defenders beaten (6), metres gained (42), and tackles (16).
When former Black Ferns halfback and three-time FPC Premiership winner Ariana Bayler crossed the strip capitalising on a forceful lineout drive in the 62nd minute, Manawa was in with a fighting chance at 38-26. Manawa’s lineout within striking distance was kryptonite. Black Ferns hooker Vici-Rose-Green rumbled over for two tries. Soon they'll call her the “Morrinsville mauler.”
However, Kaipo Olsen-Baker (15 tackles, 19 carries) and Grace Brooker (10 beaten defenders, 65 meters gained) underscored Matatū’s collective threat by assisting Plum-King for the last two tries of her treble. Earlier, Olsen-Baker had opened the scoring after five minutes, unstoppable from close range after Matatū secured a lineout and worked through the phases.
The hosts doubled their lead from another lineout in the 12th minute when netball convert Paris Lokotui soared and Black Ferns halfback Maia Joseph flashed clear.
Joseph was a last-pass provider for Plum-King’s first try, another highlight of a vibrant display. Black Ferns teammate Hannah King was authoritative and slotted six conversions from eight attempts. Renee Holmes and King shared the previous record for most conversions in a single Matatū game with four.
On occasions, Matatū struggled with discipline, but under the roof of Christchurch’s new rugby cathedral, they were too rapid for the plucky visitors. Right winger Winnie Palamo was a consistent threat, centre Amy du Plessis showed why New Zealand rugby re-signed her until 2028, and Lialanie Muamua (Binky) made Linwood proud. In 2025, she was named in the New Zealand Rugby Under-20s squad.
Matatū captain and Black Fern Grace Brooker was humbled by the record crowd.
“It’s so good. I don’t know if you understand what you’ve actually done here today. You’ve set the precedent for the rest of the competition, for the rest of Aotearoa. You’ve made us feel seen, you’ve made us feel heard, and we appreciate you so, so much.”
Matatū: 52 (Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Maia Joseph, Elinor-Plum King 3, Amy du Plessis, Binky Muamua, Laura Bayfield tries; Hannah King 6 cons) Chiefs Manawa: 26 (Vici-Rose Green 2, Leata Puni-Lio, Ariana Bayler tries; Carys Dallinger 3 cons) HT: 26-14
