Sky Super Rugby Aupiki is back. The Blues are the team to beat in 2026, having won the last two titles. Chiefs Manawa, Matatū and Hurricanes Poua won’t let the Blues have it all their own way, with Manawa and Matatū past winners of the competition and the Poua with nothing to lose.
Blues v Hurricanes Poua
Where: Eden Park, Auckland
When: 2:05 pm
Referee: Erin Doherty (2nd Aupiki Match)
The defending champion Blues are stacked with ten current or former Black Ferns in their starting XV and another four on the bench. Captain Maiakawanakaulani Roos hasn’t missed a minute of Aupiki and locks the scrum with Maama Vaipulu, who was in explosive form during the Black Ferns Pacific Four series win in April.
The loose forwards are headlined by world-class Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, with 2025 breakout Taufa Bason aiming to continue her momentum. Amarante Sititi, sister of All Black Wallace Sititi, approaches the game with similar vigour. Former Black Fern Tafito Lafaele returns after a stint in the NRLW.
Outstanding Black Ferns Ruahei Demant, Sylvia Brunt and Braxton Sorensen-McGee are now joined by Mererangi Paul. Paul was the Black Ferns' leading try scorer in the Pacific Four and has moved from Chiefs Manawa.
The Blues' overall Aupiki record is 15 wins and 8 defeats, with 12 victories in the past two seasons. In 2025, they won both matches against the Poua 50-10 and 49-26. In the first win, former Black Ferns front rower Grace Gago, who will come off the bench for the Blues, scored two tries.
Blues coach Willie Walker: “A few seasons ago, we had a big focus on growing our base and talent from our region and it’s been great to see those players now go on to higher honours and still be a part of our group.”
The Poua’s last competition win against the Blues was in 2023, but they won a pre-season joust in inclement weather in Heretaunga 26-14. Mo’omo’oga Ona Palu, Te Rauoriwa Gapper, Lily Murray-Wihongi and Kokako Raki scored tries in a hearty display. All four players feature on Saturday, with Black Fern Palu, a 2023 championship winner from Matatū, bolstering the Poua scrum. Gapper has won four Farah Palmer Cup Premierships with Canterbury. The 34-year-old slots in at second five-eighth as co-captain alongside Black Ferns XV lock or flanker Samantaha Taylor, 23.
After two seasons without a win, the Poua have a new remit under new coach Māori All Black Hayden Triggs.
“Why coach this team? It’s a great challenge, a chance to grow my own pedagogy, but, more importantly, to bring new energy and new ideas and make a difference. The performances over the past two seasons aren’t good enough. There are many reasons for that. We’ve reviewed them and will learn from them. There is a huge desire and intent to be better.”
In an attempt to shake things up, the Hurricanes have selected Black Ferns fullback and new recruit Renee Holmes at first-five, while Iritana Hohaia shifts from halfback to fullback, a position she has played for Taranaki. Halfback Molly Scuffil McCabe, who has played for Ireland, tackling machines Greer Muir and Neve Anglesey, and Black Fern Ayesha Leti-I’iga, who has scored 202 tries in 82 games for her club Ories, are ones to watch.
Matatū v Chiefs Manawa
Where: One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch
When: 4:05 pm
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (13th Aupiki Match)
Chiefs Manawa beat Matatū 17-15 in the first Aupiki match on March 10, 2022, in Hamilton. The closeness of that tussle has fuelled their rivalry, with Manawa leading 4-3 and six matches decided by eight points or fewer.
A key clash in the scrum will be between new Black Ferns Veisina Matutariki-Fakalelu (tighthead Manawa) and Matatū loosehead Maddi Robinson. Robinson won Aupiki with the Blues in 2024 and has 12 wins in 15 games for Canterbury. Matutariki-Fakalelu had a barnstorming 2025 Aupiki campaign, ranking in the top ten for carries and offloads.
The Chiefs' scrum and lineouts have historically been powerful. They’ll use both as weapons for strike attacks and piggyback penalties. Fijian international Jade Coates, Black Ferns blindside Mia Anderson, and Bay of Plenty Jessie Wharekura are key performers here, along with Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu and three-time Waikato FPC winner Chyna Hohepa.
Matatū should hold their own up front. Watch for the 2023 top tackler and Black Fern Lucy Jenkins, Black Ferns Player of the Year 2024 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, and lock Paris Lokotui making her debut after winning the ANZ championship with the Central Pulse.
Manawa’s backline is comparatively green compared to the hosts'. Carys Dallinger runs the cutter after playing for Australia. Lela Ieremia has scored 15 tries and enjoyed 19 wins with Waikato.
Matatū’s backline boasts the well-established midfield combination of Amy Du Plessis and Grace Brooker, back to captain after her stint in AFLW.
Mia Anderson: The Manawa and Matatū rivalry is intense. We are quite different culturally and in the way we play. There’s a lot of respect there. The Blues have the most Black Ferns and experience of winning Aupiki. They’re the team to beat. We're working hard to create an exciting game plan and culture that works for us.”
nib Blues Team – Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1
1. Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono
2. Atlanta Lolohea
3. Aldora Itunu
4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos
5. Maama Vaipulu
6. Amarante Sititi (debut)
7. Taufa Bason
8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (20th game)
9. Tara Turner
10. Ruahei Demant
11. Sariyah Paitai (debut)
12. Hollyrae Mete-Renata (debut)
13. Sylvia Brunt
14. Mererangi Paul (debut)
15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Reserves: 16. Grace Gago (20th game), 17. Nijiho Nagata, 18. Harono Te Iringa, 19. Eloise Blackwell, 20. Tafito Lafaele, 21. Danny-Elle Fesolai (debut), 22. Ffion Penney (debut), 23. Hazel Tubic (debut)
Hurricanes Poua Team – Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1
1. Krystal Murray (5)
2. Valini Vaka (debut)
3. Ona Palu (debut)
4. Brianna Wallace (debut)
5. Stacey Niao (debut)
6. Sam Taylor (10) – co-captain
7. Neve Anglesey (debut)
8. Greer Muir (debut)
9. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (debut)
10. Renee Holmes (debut)
11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga (12)
12. Te Rauoriwa Gapper (8) – co-captain
13. Leilani Hakiwai (12)
14. Wikitoria Viljoen (debut)
15. Iritana Hohaia (17)
Reserves: 16. Keiana Roffey (debut), 17. Ngano Tavake (7), 18. Faythe Finau (debut), 19. Lily Murray-Wihongi (debut), 20. Anahera Hamahona (debut), 21. Fia Laikong (3), 22. Kokako Raki (debut), 23 Arene Landon-Lane (1)
Matatū Team – Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1
**denotes debut
Matatū team - Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1
1. Maddi Robinson
2. Nat Delamere
3. Santo Taumata*
4. Laura Bayfield
5. Paris Lokotui**
6. Fiaali'i Solomona
7. Elinor-Plum King*
8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker
9. Maia Joseph
10. Hannah King
11. Binky Muamua**
12. Grace Brooker
13. Amy du Plessis
14. Winnie Palamo
15. Poppy Baxter**
Reserves: 16. Holly Greenway, 17. Marcelle Parkes, 18. Wikitoria Rogers** , 19. Sophie Kerr** , 20. Sarah Jones, 21. Kelsyn McCook, 22. Charntay Poko, 23. Charlotte Va'afusuaga
Chiefs Manawa Team – Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Round 1`
* denotes debut
1. Chyann Kaitapu*
2. Vici-Rose Green
3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu
4. Jade Coates
5. Jessie Wharekura*
6. Mia Anderson
7. Kennedy Tukuafu (c)
8. Chyna Hohepa
9. Ariana Bayler
10. Carys Dallinger*
11. Shyrah Tuliau-Tua'a*
12. Huia Harding*
13. Shoshanah Seumanutafa
14. Lela Ieremia*
15. Presayus Singh*
Reserves: 16. Nicole Purdom*, 17. Amber Mundell*, 18. Lonita Ngalu*, 19. Leata Puni-Lio, 20. Olivia Holten*, 21. Tynealle Fitzgerald, 22. Madison Flutey*, 23. Reese Anderson
