2026 MATCH HIGHLIGHTS, PRESS CONFERENCES, MATCH REPORTS
2026 Super Rugby Pacific Round 5: Blues 43 - 7 Moana Pasifika (W)
Another strong Blues performance saw them run in four unanswered second half tries as they proved too strong for Moana Pasifika, claiming a commanding 43-7 victory at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues came out firing and it didn’t take long for the first points to arrive. After a lineout inside the 22, the forwards went to work, hammering away at Moana Pasifika’s defensive line. Sam Nock spotted space at the base of the ruck and darted over to give the home side an early 5-0 lead.
A red card to Augustine Pulu soon after opened the door, and the Blues wasted no time taking advantage. Building pressure deep in the attacking zone, the ball was worked left where Taufa Funaki stabbed a clever kick through for AJ Lam to regather and score.
Moana Pasifika struck back to reduce the deficit to 10-7, but the Blues responded immediately.
From the restart they attacked again, Xavi Taele linking up with Codemeru Vai who stormed down the sideline before finding Anton Segner just short of the line. Ofa Tu’ungafasi finished the movement moments later, charging over to extend the lead.
Moana Pasifika threatened late in the first half and thought they had crossed twice, but both tries were scrubbed by the TMO, leaving the Blues with a 15-7 advantage at the break.
The second half firmly belonged to the home side.
Within minutes the Blues struck again, working their way up field through a penalty before Marcel Renata powered over from close range. Soon after, Beauden Barrett launched a superb spiral bomb that earned a 50/22. From the resulting lineout the forwards went back to work, and Sam Darry forced his way across to push the lead to 29-7.
With control firmly in their hands, the Blues added two more late tries. Vai showed electric pace to finish down the right edge after a turnover in the ruck, before Mason Tupaea spotted a gap in the defensive line to cap off the scoring.
Vai was outstanding with 104 running metres and a try, while captain Dalton Papali’i led from the front once again with 25 tackles.
Next up in Round 6 the Blues head across the Tasman to face the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday night.
Blues 43: (Tries: Tu'ungafasi, Renata, Nock, Darry, Vai, Lam, Tupaea; Cons: Barrett 4)
Moana Pasifika 7: (Try: Sanerivi; Con: Pellegrini)
Referee: James Doleman
2026 Super Rugby Pacific Round 4: Blues 29 - 13 Crusaders (W)
The Blues bounced back in style in front of a vocal home crowd at Eden Park, producing a clinical performance to secure a 29-13 statement win over the Crusaders in Round 4.
It was the Blues wingers who set the tone early, with the hosts racing to a commanding 19-3 lead inside the opening 21 minutes.
Caleb Clarke picked up right where he left off from last week, crossing twice in the opening nine minutes to ignite the home crowd.
The early momentum came after the Crusaders were reduced to 14 players following a high shot from Dom Gardiner, shortly after Jamie Hannah had opened the scoring.
A late reshuffle before kick-off saw Beauden Barrett elevated into the starting side for his first appearance of 2026, and the All Blacks playmaker delivered one of the highlights of the night.
Barrett produced a perfectly weighted attacking kick for Codemeru Vai, who showed superb athleticism to gather the ball and touch down within inches of the in-goal sideline.
A yellow card to Clarke for a deliberate knock-down allowed the visitors back into the contest late in the first half, cutting the Blues’ lead to six at the break.
Codie Taylor scored the Crusaders’ opening try before Rivez Reihana finished a slick attacking movement he had initiated with a clever kick, diving over from a deft flick pass by Noah Hotham.
Clarke made amends shortly after the restart, returning from the sin bin to complete his hat-trick and restore the Blues’ 12-point advantage.
From there, the Blues controlled the contest, with a composed defensive effort shutting down any momentum from the defending champions.
The Crusaders’ best opportunity came with 10 minutes remaining, but a crucial tackle under the posts dislodged the ball and preserved the Blues lead.
A late penalty from Barrett sealed the result and ended a four-game drought against the Crusaders at Eden Park.
The Blues now turn their focus to the next challenge up against Moana Pasifika on Sunday afternoon back at Eden Park.
Blues 29 (Tries: Clarke 3, Vai; Cons: Barrett 3; Pens: Barrett)
Crusaders 13 (Tries: Taylor, Reihana; Pens: Reihana)
Referee: Nic Berry
2026 Super Rugby Pacific Round 3: Blues 27 - 30 Brumbies (L)
It was heartbreak at the hooter for the Blues in Canberra, falling 30-27 to the Brumbies in a Round 3 clash that had everything.
The opening 40 minutes were a genuine arm wrestle. The Blues started with strong territory and intent, but it was the Brumbies who struck first against the run of play, a clever kick in behind leading to the opener and a 7-0 lead.
The response was immediate. Caleb Clarke read the play perfectly, intercepting a pass and racing away to level the scores at 7-7.
Despite conceding a penalty and another try midway through the half, the Blues stayed composed and chipped away at the deficit. A Stephen Perofeta penalty reduced the margin before a momentum-shifting play just before the break.
Finlay Christie launched a midfield bomb which Josh Beehre regathered brilliantly. From the ensuing phases, AJ Lam muscled his way through multiple defenders to score a superb try, levelling the game 15-15 at halftime.
The second half was built on resilience. The Blues absorbed sustained pressure early, conceding just three points before striking when their opportunity came. A quick Christie throw found Cole Forbes in space, and after sharp ball movement to the left edge, Clarke crossed for his second to give the visitors the lead.
Momentum continued to build when Codemeru Vai punched through the middle off the bench, setting the platform for Dalton Papali’i to finish in the corner in his 100th match. At 27-18, the Blues had control.
But rugby can turn quickly. A yellow card to Perofeta in the 71st minute shifted momentum in the home side’s favour and the Brumbies capitalised, scoring twice with the final blow coming in stoppage time to steal the result.
Clarke was electric with 108 metres and four clean breaks, while Papali’i led from the front with 19 tackles and two turnovers in his 100th match.
The Blues look to regroup in front of their home fans with another big match-up against the Crusaders at Eden Park on Saturday night.
Blues 27 (Tries: Clarke 2, Lam, Papali'i; Cons: Perofeta 2; Pens: Perofeta)
ACT Brumbies 30 (Tries: Meredith, Pollard, Reimer, Cale; Cons: Lonergan, Edmed; Pens: Lonergan 2)
Referee: Angus Gardner
2026 Super Rugby Pacific Round 2: Blues 42 - 32 Force (W)
The Blues bounced back in style on Saturday night, outlasting the Western Force 42-32 in a high-scoring contest in Perth to get their season up and running.
The team came out with intent, setting up camp inside the Force 22 early. The forward pack rolled up their sleeves and went to work, with Joshua Fusitu’a reaping the rewards as he powered over for the opener and a 7-0 lead.
The Force hit back in similar fashion to level things up, but the Blues stayed composed.
A yellow card to the home side opened the door. Sustained pressure through the middle created space out wide, and Stephen Perofeta had a simple finish down the left edge to restore the advantage.
Momentum continued to swing, with the Force edging ahead 17-14 just before the break after flanker Carlo Tizzano crossed, but the Blues came out firing in the second spell with the wind at their backs.
A slick left-edge movement saw Finlay Christie link with Caleb Clarke, who found Dalton Papali’i in space. His offload to Zarn Sullivan was perfectly timed, and the fullback did the rest to reclaim the lead.
From there, the Blues’ power game took over. AJ Lam’s clever grubber pinned the Force deep before Torian Barnes burrowed over for his first Super Rugby try. Soon after, a clinical lineout drive and quick hands put Cole Forbes over in the corner to stretch the margin.
The Force refused to fade, but every time they threatened, the Blues responded. Josh Beehre added his name to the scoresheet after relentless forward pressure close to the line, sealing the result despite a late consolation try.
Sullivan was electric with 82 running metres, while Beehre impressed with 16 tackles and a crucial turnover.
The Blues continue their Australian tour this week when they travel to Canberra to take on the red hot Brumbies on Saturday night.
Blues 42: (Tries: Fusitu'a, Perofeta, Sullivan, Barnes, Forbes, Beehre; Cons: Perofeta 6)
Force 32: (Tries: Johnson-Holmes, Tizzano, Kuenzle, Donaldson; Cons: Donaldson 3; Pens: Donaldson 2)
Referee: Damon Murphy
2026 Super Rugby Pacific Round 1: Blues 15 - 19 Chiefs (L)
The Blues suffered a narrow 15-19 defeat in their 2026 Super Rugby season opener against the Chiefs at Eden Park.
In a match where chances were at a premium, the Blues showed steel and attacking promise, pushing last year’s finalists all the way before a breakaway try in the closing minutes proved the difference.
The opening exchanges were tense, with both sides probing but unable to convert early pressure into points.
New Blues recruit Bradley Slater came agonisingly close to a dream start against his former side, held up over the line in a moment that summed up the intensity of the opening quarter.
As the game settled, the Blues continued to apply pressure through strong carries and committed defence.
After the visitors struck first, the response was immediate and emphatic.
Caleb Clarke punched through the line before Zarn Sullivan powered on in support, sprinting his way over to level the scores and lift the Eden Park crowd.
With the contest finely balanced, the Blues’ defensive effort kept the scoreboard tight heading into the break.
The home side came out with intent in the second half and were rewarded when skipper Dalton Papali’i crashed over following another damaging Sullivan carry.
Even after the scores were levelled once more, the Blues remained composed. A strong restart forced an error and allowed Sullivan to nudge the hosts back in front with a penalty, capping an influential night from the fullback.
The match was ultimately decided in the final minutes, with a rare broken-field moment giving the visitors the decisive score. Despite the setback, the Blues continued to fight until the final whistle.
The focus now shifts quickly to the next challenge, with the Blues preparing for a trip to Perth to take on the Force in Joondalup on Saturday night.
Blues 15: (Tries: Sullivan, Papali'i; Cons: Sullivan; Pens: Sullivan)
Chiefs 19: (Tries: Ratima, Taukei'aho, Vaa'i; Cons: Jacomb 2)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe