Super Rugby: Round 13 Recap - Brumbies win Aussie derby bragging rights

The race to the play-offs continues to heat up, with just three rounds of action remaining in the regular season for 2026. The hunt for a place in the top six continues, with the Hurricanes stretching their legs out in-front following a statement win over Moana Pasifika. The Chiefs, Blues and Crusaders complete an all New Zealand top four, before the Brumbies and Reds bring an Australian influx at fifth and sixth.

So, in case you missed any of the action from across the Southern Hemisphere's premier club competition this past weekend, we have you covered once again with a full run-down of the scores. Here's RUCK's latest Super Rugby Pacific re-cap, as we approach the business end of the 2026 season.

The Crusaders maintained their unbeaten record at One NZ Stadium with an impressive 36-20 victory over the Blues, strengthening their push towards the top end of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.

Leicester Fainga’anuku was outstanding throughout, producing a dominant all-round display that drove the hosts forward and created several key moments. The converted flanker played a central role in the opening two tries, first delivering a clever inside pass from a lineout move for centurion George Bower to score in his 100th appearance, before chipping ahead for Jamie Hannah to capitalise on a loose ball. Despite controlling much of the first half, the Crusaders were briefly rocked by a rapid Blues fightback. AJ Lam sprinted almost 70 metres for a counter-attacking try before Sam Nock crossed from close range shortly before half-time to hand the visitors a surprise lead at the break.

The hosts quickly regained control after the restart. Rivez Reihana sliced through under the posts before replacement scrum-half Kyle Preston finished off a sharp counterattack to extend the advantage. Fainga’anuku then produced another classy touch with a grubber kick for Sevu Reece to score and seemingly put the game beyond doubt. Late discipline issues threatened to complicate matters for the Crusaders after Kurtis MacDonald received a red card and Jack Sexton was sin-binned, allowing Hoskins Sotutu to narrow the margin. However, the Blues were unable to capitalise, and George Bell sealed the bonus-point win despite the numerical disadvantage.

Crusaders 36 (Tries: Bower, Hannah, Reihana, Reece, Bell, Preston; Cons: Reihana 3)
Blues 20 (Tries: Lam, Nock, Sotutu; Cons: Barrett; Pens: Perofeta)

The Queensland Reds’ hopes of securing a home qualifying final suffered a major setback after a controversial 31-21 defeat to the Chiefs at Suncorp Stadium. In a physical and often tense contest, the Reds battled hard to stay in touch despite repeatedly finding themselves on the wrong side of the penalty count. The decisive moment came late when Fraser McReight was penalised at the breakdown, allowing the Chiefs to set up a scrum before Wallace Sititi powered over in the 79th minute to seal the result.

Queensland had started brightly, with Lachie Anderson marking his return from injury with an early try. However, the Chiefs quickly responded through Sititi and gradually took control as the Reds struggled at the lineout and endured a series of frustrating moments with the officials. The visitors stretched their lead through Samisoni Taukei’aho’s rolling maul dominance, while the Reds were left furious after a potential Seru Uru try before half-time was ruled held up despite replays appearing inconclusive.

Queensland rallied strongly in the second half. Harry Wilson and Carter Gordon combined brilliantly to send Joe Brial over, before youngster Treyvon Pritchard produced a superb finish in the corner to reduce the deficit to three points with six minutes remaining. But Jeff Toomaga-Allen’s yellow card left the Reds vulnerable, and the Chiefs capitalised clinically through Sititi’s late score to secure an important away win and consolidate their position near the top of the standings.

Chiefs 31 (Tries: Sititi 2, Taukei’aho 2, Hutchinson; Cons: McKenzie 3)
Queensland Reds 21 (Tries: Anderson, Brial, Pritchard; Cons: Lynagh 3)

The Highlanders survived a frantic finish to hand the NSW Waratahs a damaging 31-26 defeat in Dunedin, extending the Australians’ miserable run in New Zealand to 13 straight losses. The hosts exploded out of the blocks with a devastating opening 20 minutes that effectively laid the foundation for victory. Caleb Tangitau starred early, setting up Jonah Lowe’s opener before producing a brilliant solo try of his own, beating four defenders in a dazzling run to the line.

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens then crossed to make it 21-0 as the Waratahs struggled to contain the Highlanders’ attacking intensity. The visitors were handed a lifeline when Highlanders captain Timoci Tavatavanawai was yellow-carded, and they immediately responded through Andrew Kellaway after Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Max Jorgensen combined well. However, Lowe grabbed his second before half-time to restore the hosts’ control.

Despite spending much of the second half under pressure — and later losing Jona Nareki to a red card — the Highlanders defended resiliently to keep the Waratahs at arm’s length. Late tries from Apolosi Ranawai and Sid Harvey gave the visitors hope, but repeated penalties and handling errors proved costly as the Highlanders held firm to secure an important home win.

Highlanders 31 (Tries: Lowe 2, Tangitau, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens; Cons: Millar 4; Pens: Millar)
NSW Waratahs 26 (Tries: Kellaway, Ranawai, Halaholo, Harvey; Cons: Harvey 3)

The Hurricanes strengthened their grip on top spot in Super Rugby Pacific with a dominant 50-17 victory over Moana Pasifika at North Harbour Stadium. Josh Moorby was the star of the show, crossing four times in a clinical attacking display, while returning winger Kini Naholo marked his comeback from injury with two quickfire second-half tries.

The Hurricanes controlled proceedings from early on despite difficult wet-weather conditions, with Moorby opening the scoring after sustained pressure before adding a second midway through the first half. Du’Plessis Kirifi also crossed as the visitors threatened to pull away.

Moana Pasifika briefly hit back through Tuna Tuitama following a superb long-range counterattack, reducing the deficit to 19-5 at half-time and offering the hosts some hope. However, the Hurricanes quickly extinguished any thoughts of a comeback after the break. Moorby completed his hat-trick through excellent support play before Naholo struck twice in as many minutes to blow the game wide open.

Israel Leota added a response for Moana Pasifika, but the Hurricanes’ attacking depth continued to shine as Jone Rova and Moorby’s fourth try pushed the score beyond 50. Tuitama grabbed his second late on, but it proved little more than consolation as the Hurricanes secured another commanding bonus-point victory.

Hurricanes 50 (Tries: Moorby 4, Naholo 2, Kirifi, Rova; Cons: Harkin 5)
Moana Pasifika 17 (Tries: Tuitama 2, Leota; Cons: Garden-Bachop)

Ryan Lonergan inspired the ACT Brumbies to a crucial 32-15 victory over the Western Force in Canberra, keeping their Super Rugby Pacific finals hopes firmly on track. The Brumbies entered the contest under pressure after losing six of their previous eight matches, but captain Lonergan delivered a composed performance from scrum-half, scoring a try, kicking two penalties and controlling the game expertly throughout.

The hosts made the perfect start when Lachie Shaw crossed inside two minutes, though the Force quickly settled and responded through Harry Johnson-Holmes. Ollie Sapsford restored the Brumbies’ advantage before half-time after Corey Toole sliced through the defensive line with a blistering run. Lonergan then took control after the break, extending the lead with a penalty before finishing a slick move involving brother Lachlan Lonergan to score himself and put the Brumbies firmly in command.

The Force briefly stayed alive when Carlo Tizzano powered over from a maul, but discipline and territory continued to hurt the visitors as the Brumbies closed the contest out professionally. Debutant Chris Mickelson sealed the result in the closing stages, diving over shortly after coming off the bench to cap an important win for the home side.

ACT Brumbies 32 (Tries: Shaw, Sapsford, R. Lonergan, Mickelson; Cons: R. Lonergan 3; Pens: R. Lonergan 2)
Western Force 15 (Tries: Johnson-Holmes, Tizzano; Cons: Donaldson; Pens: Donaldson)