The Queensland Reds will host the champion Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium for the first time in three years as a highlight of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific draw released today.
The April 11 blockbuster against the Kiwis is a feature of the seven-game schedule of home games in 2026 when Super Rugby celebrates its 30th year.
The Crusaders are always one of the biggest crowd-pullers at Suncorp Stadium
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The Reds will be aiming to improve on their fifth-placed finishes in the finals in 2024 and 2025 when the new season kicks off. Of all the gains made by the Reds in recent seasons, five wins over Kiwi opponents across the 2024 and 2025 seasons is one of the biggest.
In the 2026 schedule, the Reds will host three bumper crowd-pleasers against Kiwi rivals, the Highlanders, the Chiefs and the Crusaders. There will be fierce local derbies against the NSW Waratahs, Western Force and ACT Brumbies plus a visit by the Fijian Drua with all their flair. In 2026, the Reds will play four Saturday night home matches and three Friday night home matches.
Queensland Reds Head Coach Les Kiss said the draw had exciting opportunities and challenges which the players and coaching staff would embrace.
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"We are very excited about how we are opening the season with our derby against the NSW Waratahs to kick-off the 30th year of Super Rugby," Kiss said.
"Facing the Crusaders at our home ground at Suncorp Stadium is a game the fans will be looking forward to. As always, there are some good challenges in the draw with the away games.
"We are already advanced in the planning to keep improving on the progress of our previous seasons together."
Reds will open their 2026 season on the road against the NSW Waratahs at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Friday, February 13. The battle to retain the Bob Templeton Cup will have a sharp early season focus with the return interstate match locked in for Round Five at Suncorp Stadium (March 14). After a Round Two bye, the Reds will host the Highlanders in the first home game of 2026 on Friday, February 27. The Reds will head to Canberra for Round Four against the Brumbies (March 7) before the Waratahs visit Suncorp Stadium. A two-game stretch on the road follows in Round Six and Seven to play the Fijian Drua in Fiji (March 21) and the Hurricanes in Wellington (March 28).
Back-to-back home games follow against the Force on April 4 and the Crusaders before a Round 10 bye. Embedded in the schedule is the now-traditional Anzac Day clash against the Auckland-based Blues. The 2026 clash in Round 11 will be played on April 25 as part of Super Round in Christchurch when the new One New Zealand Stadium will be christened. It follows on from a remarkable clash between the two teams during ANZAC Weekend Round in 2024 when the Reds were pipped by the eventual champions of that year. In 2025, the Reds pulled off a convincing 35-21 win with Tom Lynagh leading the way with two tries. The Reds will wear a new Anzac jersey designed by Canterbury for the occasion. The Reds will then return to Suncorp Stadium for back-to-back home games against the Brumbies (May 2) and Chiefs (May 8). Road trips follow to face the Force at Perth’s HBF Park in Round 14 (May 16) and Moana Pasifika at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium (May 23). The Reds will close the regular season at home on May 29 when they host the Drua in Round 16 for the Queensland Rugby Union’s Indigenous Round. Queensland Rugby Union Chief Executive David Hanham said the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific draw offered Reds fans plenty to smile about. “Reds crowds were up 10 per cent at Suncorp Stadium this year. We value that great support from members and fans which was part of a positive jump in popularity and engagement for Super Rugby Pacific as a whole,” Hanham said. “The stats showed that more than half the games in 2025 had a lead change in the second half. That increased jeopardy and the increased success rate for Australian sides against our Kiwi rivals has definitely been a big part of that.
“We have an appealing home draw in 2026. We know we have a strong Crusaders fanbase in Queensland and they have been waiting to turn out in full force at Suncorp Stadium.
“We have some fierce Australian rivalries with the Waratahs, Brumbies and Force for the fans as well.
“We have a passionate Fijian community in Queensland so it’s wonderful that a visit by the Drua is an annual event.”
Round 1: (Away) Queensland Reds vs NSW Waratahs, Allianz Stadium - Fri, Feb 13 (6:35pm)
Round 2 BYE
Round 3 (Home): Queensland Reds vs Highlanders, Suncorp Stadium - Fri, Feb 27 (6:35pm)
Round 4 (Away): ACT Brumbies vs Queensland Reds, GIO Stadium, Canberra - Sat, March 7 (6:35pm)
Round 5 (Home): Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs, Suncorp Stadium - Sat, March 14 (6;35pm)
Round 6 (Away): Fijian Drua vs. Queensland Reds, Churchill Park, Lautoka - Sat, March 21 (1:35pm)
Round 7 (Away): Hurricanes vs Queensland Reds, Sky Stadium, Wellington – Sat, March 28 (1:35pm)
Round 8 (Home): Queensland Reds vs Western Force, Suncorp Stadium – Sat, April 4 (6:35pm)
Round 9 (Home): Queensland Reds vs Crusaders, Suncorp Stadium – Sat, April 11 (7:35pm)
Round 10: BYE
Round 11 (Away): Queensland Reds vs Blues, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch - Sat, April 25, TBC, Super Round
Round 12 (Home): Queensland Reds vs ACT Brumbies, Suncorp Stadium – Sat, May 2 (7:35pm)
Round 13 (Home): Queensland Reds vs Chiefs, Suncorp Stadium – Fri, May 8 (7:35pm)
Round 14 (Away): Western Force vs Queensland Reds, HBF Park, Perth – Sat, May 16 (7:35pm)
Round 15 (Away): Moana Pasifika vs Queensland Reds, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland – Sat, May 23 (2:35pm)
Round 16 (Home): Queensland Reds vs Fijian Drua, Suncorp Stadium – Fri, May 29 (7: 35pm), QRU Indigenous Round
Qualifying Finals (1 v 6, 2 v 5, 3 v 4) – Fri, June 5 and Sat, June 6
Semi-finals – Fri, June 12 and Sat, June 13
SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC FINAL – Sat, June 20
