Historic All In Round brings all Sky Super Rugby Aupiki teams to one venue
For the first time, fans can experience every team and every player in one venue on one day, highlighted by a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash between Matatū and nib Blues Women in a rematch of the 2025 Grand Final.
As the competition reaches its halfway point, the Hurricanes Poua and Chiefs Manawa will both be chasing their first win of the season, while the unbeaten Blues and Matatū renew one of the competition's newest rivalries after last year's thrilling 26-19 grand final.
Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua preview:
When: Saturday 27 June at 5:05 pm
Where: Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Referee: Marcus Playle
Kennedy Tukuafu reaches 100 first-class games
Chiefs Manawa have won all seven previous games against Hurricanes Poua and will be favoured to extend that streak after stretching the Blues to the limit last Saturday.
Captain and openside Kennedy Tukuafu becomes the 28th woman in New Zealand first-class rugby to reach 100 games, a feat that should become increasingly common with more rugby.
Simon’s milestone is motivation enough for a Chiefs side that also celebrates Ariana Bayler’s 20th game, the return of previously injured Black Ferns prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, and the debut of 2024 Paris Olympic gold medal-winning Black Ferns sevens player Manaia Nuku.
Among a relatively settled cohort, hooker Vici-Rose Green, lock Chyna Hohepa, and winger Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a have been among the Chiefs' best in 2026.
The Poua have made six changes to their starting lineup following last Sunday’s 18-15 defeat to Matatū, their best result since their last win on March 9, 2024.
Black Ferns prop Mo’omo’oga Palu returns to an otherwise unchanged tight five. A reshuffled loose forward trio sees Neve Anglesey return to openside flanker and Brianna Wallace named at No 8, while Anahera Hamahona is kept at blindside flanker.
A fresh midfield combination is headlined by the return of co-captain Te Rauoriwa Gapper to the starting lineup, where she partners centre Hinemaringi Scott. Wikitoria Viljoen is the only new addition to the outside backs.
The bench has been completely overhauled. Hooker Jordyn Tihore is primed to make her Super Rugby Aupiki debut. While, Greer Muir and Molly Scuffil-McCabe have featured prominently in the first two rounds.
Meanwhile, the Poua returned to the grassroots in pursuit of a breakthrough. On Wednesday night, a training session was held at the Paremata-Plimmerton rugby club at the Ngati Toa Domain just north of Pourira.
In 1990, Paremata-Plimmerton were the winners of the first official Wellington senior club competition. On the wing for that team was 14-year-old Mel Bosman (née Ngati), the Hurricanes assistant coach.
It was the first time Bosman, later a two-time Rugby World Cup-winning Black Fern, had returned to her roots. Paremata-Plimmerton now features a newly framed and captioned jersey honouring Black Fern Erika Rere, who played in the 1990 Paremata-Plimmerton team and at the first women's Rugby World Cup in 1991.
Another recent milestone is the Poua’s doctor, Luke Donaldson. He played his 50th Premier game for Marist St Pats in their 15-14 win over Old Boys University for The Jack Lamason Memorial Cup last Saturday. Luke's dad, Glenn Donaldson, an MSP centurion himself, attended the game and had double cause for celebration on Monday when two players he coached in the 2015 St Pat's Town Wellington Premiership First XV made the All Blacks: Billy Proctor and Xavier Nuima.
Chiefs Manawa team list
Chiefs Manawa team to play Hurricanes Poua:
- Te Urupounamu McGarvey
- Vici-Rose Green
- Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu
- Jade Coates
- Chyna Hohepa
- Olivia Holten
- Kennedy Tukuafu (C)
- Mia Anderson
- Holli O’Sullivan
- Ariana Bayler (20)
- Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a
- Shoshana Seumanutafa
- Justine McGregor
- Presayus Singh
- Manaia Nuku*
Impact: 16. Nicole Purdom, 17. Chyann Kaitapu, 18. Lonita Ngalu, 19. Leomie Kloppers, 20. Tynealle Fitzgerald, 21. Reese Anderson, 22. Madison Flutey, 23. Lela Ieremia
Hurricanes Poua team list:
Hurricanes Poua team to play Chiefs Manawa:
- Ngano Tavake
- Tegan Willocks
- Mo’omo’oga Palu
- Sam Taylor – co-captain
- Stacey Niao
- Anahera Hamahona
- Neve Anglesey
- Brianna Wallace
- Iritana Hohaia
- Renee Holmes
- Ayesha Leti-I’iga
- Te Rauoriwa Gapper – co-captain
- Hinemaringi Scott
- Wikitoria Viljoen
- Arene Landon-Lane
IMAPCT: 16. Jordyn Tihore*, 17. Angel Mulu, 18. Brooke Rempel, 19. Greer Muir, 20. Keelah Bodle, 21. Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 22. Rangimarie Sturmey, 23. Leilani Hakiwai
* denotes debut
Blues v Matatū preview:
When: Saturday 27 June at 7:05 pm
Where: Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Referee: Todd Petrie
Grand Final rematch headlines All In Round
The Blues have won 15 of their last 17 Aupiki matches. Continuity of selection and discipline are pivotal to that success. The Blues are the least penalised team in the competition and have made only one change to their starting XV and one to the bench from the side that pipped Chiefs Manawa 27-26 in Hamilton last Saturday.
Loose forward Amarante Sititi returns to the starting line-up after completing concussion protocols. There is a further boost on the bench with prop Cilia-Marie Po'e Tofaeono also back from her first-round concussion.
This week, Blues skipper Maiakawanakaulani Roos re-signed with New Zealand Rugby and the Blues until 2029. Remarkably, she hasn’t missed a single minute of Aupiki since 2022.
Rugby World Cup-winning Black Ferns tighthead prop Aldora Itunu is another staple of consistency. Aldora will make her milestone 20th appearance for the Blues.
Through two matches, the Blues have scored the most tries (11) and had the most carries (264), clean breaks (14), and meters gained (1,112).
Black Ferns Sevens winger Jaymie Kolose is the only player who hasn’t featured for the Black Ferns fifteens in the backline.
But it all starts up front and Matatū boasts a Black Ferns tight-five as well as rampant No.8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker. Matatū have scored only one less try than the Blues and are determined to flip last year’s Grand Final defeat.
Captain Grace Brooker is brimming with optimism.
“The world’s our oyster at the moment. We’re really passionate about the rugby we put out there and we know there’s more in us,” she said. “It’s about taking it one game at a time and putting out a performance we’re proud of.”
Perhaps the game will be decided by the impact of the reserves. Both have settled on a 5-3 forwards-to-backs split. The Blues are heavier and more direct in their approach. Matatū are lighter, possibly quicker, and more nimble.
From the 2025 Grand Final, the Blues have 13 players back in their match-day squad on Saturday, while Matatū has 11. Holly Greenway, on the bench for Matatū, featured for the Blues in 2025. Hollyrae Mete-Renata, on the bench for the Blues in 2026, was on the bench for Matatū last year.
The Blues lead the overall head-to-head series 5-3.
Nib Bues team list
Nib Blues team to face Matatū:
- Glory Aiono
- Atlanta Lolohea
- Aldora Itunu
- Maiakawanakaulani Roos
- Eloise Blackwell
- Amarante Sititi
- Taufa Bason
- Liana Mikaele-Tu'u
- Tara Turner
- Ruahei Demant
- Jaymie Kolose
- Sylvia Brunt
- Mererangi Paul
- Katelyn Vahaakolo
- Braxton Sorensen-McGee
IMPACT: 16. Grace Gago, 17. Nijiho Nagata, 18. Cilia-Marie Po'e-Tofaeono, 19. Tafito Lafaele, 20. Danny-Elle Fesolai, 21. Ffion Penney, 22. Hazel Tubic, 23. Hollyrae Mete-Renata
Matatū team list
Matatū team to face nib Blues:
- Marcelle Parkes
- Nat Delamere
- Pip Love
- Laura Bayfield (VC)
- Emma Dermody
- Paris Lokotui
- Elinor-Plum King
- Kaipo Olsen-Baker
- Maia Joseph
- Hannah King
- Alena Saili
- Grace Brooker (C)
- Amy du Plessis
- Winnie Palamo
- Maia Davis
IMPACT: 16. Holly Greenway, 17. Maddi Robinson, 18. Santo Taumata, 19. Sophie Kerr, 20. Fiaali’i Solomona, 21. Kelsyn McCook, 22. Binky Muamua, 23. Poppy Baxter
