It is the showpiece weekend of the Super Rugby Pacific season, with the Hurricanes and Chiefs meeting in what shapes up as a heavyweight clash between the top two seeds on Saturday 20 June in Wellington.
The Hurricanes have earned the right to host the final after finishing top of the regular-season table, and head into the match as the firm favourites on the back of an exceptional season at home in Wellington and two dominant playoff performances.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, arrive in red-hot form after two dominant home playoff wins of their own and will be looking to spoil the home side’s party with what would be a famous away victory. We take a look at the final from a betting angle and lay down a couple of suggested bets for your consideration.
Hurricanes
The Hurricanes booked their place in the final with a clinical 57-21 hammering of the Blues at home in the semi-finals, having dispatched the Brumbies 66-12 in the quarter-finals also at home. Their three matches before the playoffs read, a 47-24 away win over the Blues, a 45-28 home win over the Highlanders, and a 47-14 defeat away to the Crusaders in the final group-stage round, although they fielded a heavily rotated side that day having already wrapped up top spot.
The Hurricanes have won their last 12 home matches in a row, with their most recent home defeat coming all the way back in 2025 against the Crusaders. Form-wise and venue-wise, this is a side that arrives at the final as close to a complete package as Super Rugby has seen all year.
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-captain), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo,10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Jone Rova, 23 Kini Naholo
Chiefs
The Chiefs booked their place in the final with a clinical 49-12 hammering of the Crusaders in their home semi-final, having dispatched the Reds 46-24 in the quarter-finals also at home. Their last three matches before the playoffs read, a 42-12 home win over the Highlanders, a 36-32 defeat away to the Crusaders, and a 59-34 home win over the Blues in the final round before the playoffs.
They head to Wellington in red-hot form, with an attack that has been one of the most prolific in the competition all season, and the kind of dangerous individual players who can hurt any side from anywhere on the field.
Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Kyle Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Sione Ahio, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 George Dyer, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Reon Paul
Head-to-Head
The Hurricanes have had the upper hand in the head-to-head record, winning three of the last five meetings between the sides. The most recent encounter ended a draw in regular time, with the Chiefs eventually winning it in extra time at home, the score finishing 22-17. However, the last time the Hurricanes hosted the fixture they were in ruthless mood, running out comfortable 35-17 winners over the Chiefs and very much underlining the strength of their record at home in Wellington.
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Betting and Verdict – click here to bet
The Hurricanes are at 1.47 while the Chiefs are out at 3.15 with the draw 26.00. The handicap is set at Hurricanes -6.5.
The Total Points line is 54.5 at the time of writing.
Both sides are arriving on flying form, having breezed through the playoffs, but the Hurricanes have been on a different level all season and are nearly untouchable at home. Across their 12-match home winning streak they have covered the -6.5 handicap on 11 occasions, with their 35-17 win over the Chiefs at the same venue earlier in the season fitting neatly into that pattern. I expect this to be a tough match between two excellent sides, but with the Hurricanes’ home form and the Chiefs having to travel, I think the top seeds should be able to run away with it.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Hurricanes [-6.5] at 1.95
The Hurricanes’ quarter and semi-finals both produced 78 total points apiece, while the Chiefs’ two playoff matches produced 61 and 70 points respectively, so both sides have been involved in high-scoring contests right through the knockouts. Both teams play expansive, attacking rugby and know how to score tries from anywhere on the field, and with the level of weapons on both rosters from Jordie Barrett and Cam Roigard for the Hurricanes to Damian McKenzie and Cortez Ratima for the Chiefs, we could see a high-scoring final this weekend.
The 54.5 line has come down from 55.5 and while it is going to be windy the rain looks likely to stay away. I am on the overs.
Suggested bet: Total points over 54.5 at 1.93
Click here for betting on the weekend’s Super Rugby Final Hurricanes v Chiefs match
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
