Source: Radio New Zealand
Super Rugby Pacific is back after a real return to form last year, with the competition kicking off in Dunedin on 13 February. As usual, each team has gone through an eventful off season, so today we’re checking in on a Chiefs side desperately looking for a title win.
Read: Highlanders preview
Read: Moana Pasifika preview
Read: Blues preview
Read: Hurricanes preview
Overview
Sevu Reece and other Crusaders players react to winning a penalty. Peter Meecham/www.photosport.nz
Another year, another heartbreak for the Chiefs is the best way to sum up 2025. After dominating the regular season, they stumbled in the first round of playoffs and lost home ground advantage for the eventual final against the Crusaders. It ended up being their third consecutive final defeat in a row, ruining Clayton McMillan’s exit and equalling the most amount of finals lost by one team.
The Good
Chiefs Tupou Vaa’i is congratulated by Chiefs Wallace Sititi during the Highlanders v Chiefs, Super Rugby Pacific match, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand. Friday, 30 May 2025, (Photo by Michael Thomas / action press) Michael Thomas / action press
The Chiefs are once again stacked with talent and will have Wallace Sititi fit and ready to go from the start of the season. Damian McKenzie is absolutely lethal at this level and they’ve added a new weapon in Kyren Tamouefolau outside him, in an already very productive backline.
There’s also minimal changes to the pack, so it should be easy for new coach Jonno Gibbes to simply continue what McMillan had built.
The Bad
Clayton McMillan and Tupou Vaa’i of the Chiefs. John Davidson / www.photosport.nz
Just how much of a psychological effect will three finals losses in a row have on this group? It’s something that they will be reminded of at every opportunity, probably starting with their Blues opponents this weekend as soon as the ball is kicked off. Shaun Stevenson is a big loss too, as he very much embodied the culture of the team.
Big boots to fill
Kyren Tamouefolau tackled by Charlie Gamble of the Waratahs. PHOTOSPORT
Tamouefolau arrives from Moana Pasifika after an outstanding 2025 season. It’s not so much about what he needs to replace at the Chiefs, as he’s effectively taking Stevenson’s spot, more living up to the hype that had him in some conversations about an eventual All Black call up.
What makes Chiefs fans different
Chiefs mascot with fans and supporters. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
They know pain by now, that’s for sure. Three years of losing to the Blues and Crusaders (twice) would make any fan be somewhat dreading the prospect of having to go through it all again. However, they breed them tough in Chiefs country and even though their record is now the same as the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl, the fans will show up in numbers as always.
Big games
Three massive fixtures to open the season, with the Blues, Highlanders and Crusaders set to give a brutal gauge on whether the Chiefs will be title contenders again. They then play those same three opponents to close out the regular season as well, with another grudge match against the Blues looming in Hamilton.
Chiefs 2026 squad
Props: Benet Kumeroa, George Dyer, Jared Proffit, Ollie Norris, Reuben O’Neill, Sione Ahio
Hookers: Brodie McAlister, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Taine Kolose, Tyrone Thompson
Locks: Aisake Vakasiuola, Fiti Sa, Jayden Sa, Josh Lord, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa’i
Loose forwards: Jahrome Brown, Kaylum Boshier, Luke Jacobson, Samipeni Finau, Simon Parker, Wallace Sititi
Halfbacks: Cortez Ratima, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Xavier Roe
First fives: Damian McKenzie, Josh Jacomb, Tepaea Cook-Savage
Midfield: Daniel Rona, Kyle Brown, Lalakai Foketi, Quinn Tupaea
Outside backs: Emoni Narawa, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Isaac Hutchinson, Kyren Taumoefolau, Leroy Carter, Liam Coombes-Fabling
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand