The Queensland Reds will play a feature match on Anzac Day when an exciting Super Round in Christchurch is a highlight of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The 11 Super Rugby clubs will converge, from April 24-26, to christen One New Zealand Stadium, the new 25,000-seat venue under a fixed roof in Christchurch.
The stadium is a game-changer for rugby in Christchurch which has been without a major stadium since the deadly 2011 earthquake rendered famous Lancaster Park unusable.
The city of Christchurch, the Crusaders and Super Rugby Pacific have joined forces to bring Super Round to Christchurch in 2026, marking the first time the event will be held in NZ.
Fittingly, the champion Crusaders will open the first major sporting event at the new venue with a Friday night match.
For the Reds, Super Round preserves the recent tradition established for an Anzac Day clash against the Auckland-based Blues. The Player of the Match will again be awarded the Sellars-Dixon Medal, which commemorates Auckland All Black George Sellars and Queensland player Billy Dixon, who died on the same World War One battlefield at Messines in 1917.
The Reds vs Blues and ACT Brumbies vs Hurricanes matches will be played on Anzac Day, the Saturday of Super Round, with a further double-header on Sunday, April 26.
Rebooting Super Round, after its three-season run in Melbourne (2022-23-24), adds to the appeal of Super Rugby Pacific.
The Reds will play seven home games at Suncorp Stadium in 2026. Already, the spin-off from the bumper tour by the British and Irish Lions has been increased early interest in Reds Memberships for next season.
Full season 2026 memberships are available from as little as $145 (adults), $365 (families) and $75 (Juniors aged 4-to-17).
Super Round 2026 will combine world-class rugby with live music and family-friendly fun, as fans from across NZ, Australia, Fiji, and the Pacific come together to celebrate a historic festival of footy in Christchurch.
Set for Round 11 in 2026, Super Round will engage Christchurch with its prime location in the city centre.
Full details of the matches for Super Round and the competition at large will be confirmed in coming weeks.
Phil Mauger, Mayor of Christchurch, said: “The opening event at One New Zealand Stadium will be a major milestone in the remarkable comeback story of our city and it is great to share that with our friends and neighbours from all across the country, Australia and the Pacific.
“We are really proud to be able to launch this amazing venue on behalf of Christchurch and know it will be a place where great memories are made.”
Jack Mesley, Super Rugby Pacific CEO, said: “Super Round is a celebration of what makes Super Rugby Pacific special. Fans can expect fast-paced rugby, classic rivalries, and an electric stadium atmosphere as supporters across the Pacific come together to celebrate Super Round.
“Hosting this event in Ōtautahi Christchurch is a fantastic way to showcase the best of our competition. We’re excited to work with the city and the Crusaders to deliver something unforgettable.”
