2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season

2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season
Countries New Zealand
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and knockout
ChampionsBlues (2nd title)
Matches played13
Tries scored104 (8 per match)
Top point scorer(s)Hannah King (51 points) Matatū
Top try scorer(s)Ruby Tui (6 tries) Chiefs Manawa
Official websiteSuper Rugby Aupiki
← 2024 (Previous) (Next) 2026 →

The 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season was the fourth and most recent season of the top-flight New Zealand women's rugby union competition, Super Rugby. The season fixtures were released on 20 November 2024, consisting of six rounds and a Grand Final to decide the season champions.

It was revealed during the season draw that the Super Rugby Aupiki champions would play the champions of the Australian Super Rugby competition, Super Rugby Women's, at the end of the season. This new competition, which is formatted similarly to a super cup, is called the Super Rugby Champions Final.[1][2][3] It was the first edition of the new competition.

The defending champions were the Blues, who defeated two-time runners-up Chiefs Manawa 24–18 in last seasons (2024) Grand Final.[4][5] The Blues successfully defended their title against Matatū in the final and won their second consecutive championship.[6][7]

Teams

Team base of the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki teams

Stadia and locations

Union Team Location(s) Stadia Capacity
Auckland Blues Kingsland, Auckland Region Eden Park 50,000
Whangārei, Northland Region Okara Park 30,000
Waikato Chiefs Manawa Hamilton, Waikato Region Waikato Stadium 25,800
Wellington Hurricanes Poua Pipitea, Wellington Region Wellington Regional Stadium 34,500
Upper Hutt, Wellington Region NZCIS —
Canterbury Matatū Addington, Canterbury Region Rugby League Park 17,104
Nelson, Tasman District Trafalgar Park, Nelson 18,000
Aidanfield, Canterbury Region Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub 1,000

Personnel

Team Coach Captain
Blues Willie Walker[8] Maia Roos
Chiefs Manawa Dwayne Sweeney[9][10] Kennedy Tukuafu
Hurricanes Poua Fusi Feaunati[11] Jackie Patea-Fereti[12]
Matatū Whitney Hansen[8] Alana Bremner[13]

Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Blues 6 5 0 1 216 123 +93 4 0 24 Advance to Grand Final
2 Matatū 6 4 0 2 169 141 +28 2 1 19
3 Chiefs Manawa 6 3 0 3 169 127 +42 2 2 16
4 Hurricanes Poua 6 0 0 6 81 244 −163 0 0 0
Source: Super Rugby Aupiki
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) Difference between points for and against; 4) Total number of points for.

Matches

Round 1

1 March
14:05 NZDT (UTC+13)
Chiefs Manawa25–31Matatū
Try: Ruby Tui (2)
Reese Anderson
Kennedy Tukuafu
Con: Renee Holmes
Pen: Renee Holmes		Try: Laura Bayfield
Winnie Palamo
Amy du Plessis (2)
Con: Hannah King (4)
Pen: Hannah King
Waikato Stadium[14]
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
1 March
16:35 NZDT (UTC+13)
Hurricanes Poua10–50Blues
Try: Isabella Waterman
Denise Aoilupotea		Try: Ruahei Demant (2)
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Grace Gago (2)
Sylvia Brunt
Con: Krysten Cottrell (3)
Ruahei Demant (3)
Pen: Krysten Cottrell
Wellington Regional Stadium[14]
Referee: Ben Woolerton

Round 2

7 March
17:05 NZDT (UTC+13)
Blues24–22Chiefs Manawa
Try: Ruahei Demant
Katelyn Vaha'akolo
Jaymie Kolose
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Con: Ruahei Demant (2)		Try: Vici-Rose Green
Grace Houpapa-Barrett
Renee Holmes
Con: Renee Holmes
Kelly Brazier
Pen: Renee Holmes
Eden Park[14]
Referee: Todd Petrie
9 March
12:35 NZDT (UTC+13)
Matatū29–7Hurricanes Poua
Try: Grace Brooker
Kaea Nepia (2)
Winnie Palamo
Lucy Jenkins
Con: Hannah King (2)		Try: Ayesha Leti-I'iga
Con: Cassie Siataga
Rugby League Park[14]
Referee: Warwick Lahmert

Round 3

15 March
14:05 NZDT (UTC+13)
Matatū7–28Blues
Try: Hannah King
Con: Hannah King		Try: Sylvia Brunt (2)
Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Atlanta Lolohea
Con: Ruahei Demant (2/2)
Tara Turner
Krysten Cottrell
Trafalgar Park[14]
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
15 March
16:35 NZDT (UTC+13)
Chiefs Manawa46–7Hurricanes Poua
Try: Ruby Tui (2)
Azalleyah Ma′aka
Jade Coates
Luka Connor
Renee Holmes
Vici-Rose Green
Tenika Willison
Con: Renee Holmes (3/8)		Try: Cassie Siataga
Con: Cassie Siataga
Waikato Stadium[14]
Referee: Ben Woolerton

Round 4

22 March
14:05 NZDT (UTC+13)
Hurricanes Poua24–43Matatū
Try: Ngano Tavake
Ayesha Leti-I'iga
Elinor-Plum King
Leilani Hakiwai
Con: Cassie Siataga (2/4)		Try: Kaipo Olsen-Baker (2)
Keighley Simpson
Winnie Palamo
Lucy Jenkins
Maia Joseph
Alana Bremner
Con: Hannah King (4/7)
NZCIS[14]
Referee: Warwick Lahmert
22 March
16:35 NZDT (UTC+13)
Chiefs Manawa21–36Blues
Try: Kelly Brazier
Kate Henwood
Ariana Bayler
Con: Kelly Brazier (3/3)		Try: Jaymie Kolose
Liana Mikaele-Tu'u
Krysten Cottrell
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Sylvia Brunt
Con: Krysten Cottrell (3/6)
Waikato Stadium[14]
Referee: Todd Petrie

Round 5

29 March
14:05 NZDT (UTC+13)
Blues29–37Matatū
Try: Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Aldora Itunu
Taufa Bason (2)
Katelyn Vaha'akolo
Con: Ruahei Demant
Krysten Cottrell		Try: Mo'omo'oga Palu
Lucy Jenkins (2)
Fia Laikong
Kaea Nepia
Con: Hannah King (3)
Pen: Hannah King (2)
Okara Park[14]
Referee: Natarsha Ganley
29 March
16:35 NZDT (UTC+13)
Hurricanes Poua7–27Chiefs Manawa
Try: Te Rauoriwa Gapper
Con: Cassie Siataga		Try: Ruby Tui
Mererangi Paul
Renee Holmes
Mia Anderson
Con: Hazel Tubic
NZCIS[14]
Referee: Erin Doherty

Round 6

5 April
14:05 NZDT (UTC+13)
Matatū22–28Chiefs Manawa
Try: Kaipo Olsen-Baker
Winnie Palamo
Sarah Jones
Con: Hannah King (1/1)
Kaea Nepia (1/2)
Pen: Hannah King (1/1)		Try: Reese Anderson
Ruby Tui
Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu
Grace Kukutai
Con: Renee Holmes (4/4)
Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub[14]
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
5 April
16:35 NZDT (UTC+13)
Blues49–26Hurricanes Poua
Try: Taufa Bason
Jaymie Kolose
Atlanta Lolohea
Ruahei Demant
Danii Mafoe
Patricia Maliepo
Ma'ama Vaipulu
Con: Krysten Cottrell (7/7)		Try: Ngano Tavake
Forne Burkin
Layla Sae
Te Ruaoriwa Gapper
Con: Cassie Siataga (3/4)
Eden Park[14]
Referee: Natarsha Ganley

Grand Final

12 April
19:05 NZST (UTC+12)
Blues26–19Matatū
Try: Ruahei Demant
Chryss Viliko
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Con: Krysten Cottrell (2)
Ruahei Demant (1)		Try: Winnie Palamo
Amy du Plessis
Kaipo Olsen-Baker
Con: Hannah King (2)
Eden Park
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
LP 1 Chryss Viliko
HK 2 Atlanta Lolohea
TP 3 Aldora Itunu
LL 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos (c)
RL 5 Ma'ama Vaipulu
BF 6 Holly Greenway
OF 7 Taufa Bason
N8 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u
SH 9 Tara Turner
FH 10 Krysten Cottrell
LW 11 Jaymie Kolose
IC 12 Ruahei Demant
OC 13 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
RW 14 Katelyn Vaha'akolo
FB 15 Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Replacements:
HK 16 Grace Gago
PR 17 Awhina Tangen-Wainohu
PR 18 Harono Te Iringa
LF 19 Eloise Blackwell
LF 20 Dajian Brown
SH 21 Kahlia Awa
OC 22 Sylvia Brunt
WG 23 Patricia Maliepo
Coach:
Willie Walker
LP 1 Pip Love
HK 2 Georgia Ponsonby
TP 3 Mo'omo'oga Palu
LL 4 Stacey Niao
RL 5 Chelsea Bremner
BF 6 Alana Bremner (c)
OF 7 Laura Bayfield
N8 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker
SH 9 Maia Joseph
FH 10 Hannah King
LW 11 Cheyelle Robins-Reti
IC 12 Grace Brooker
OC 13 Amy du Plessis
RW 14 Winnie Palamo
FB 15 Kaea Nepia
Replacements:
HK 16 Tegan Hollows
PR 17 Maddi Robinson
PR 18 Amy Rule
LK 19 Sarah Jones
LF 20 Fiaali'i Solomona
SH 21 Kelsyn McCook
FH 22 Hollyrae Mete
OC 23 Fia Laikong
Coach:
Whitney Hansen

Assistant referees:
Erin Doherty (New Zealand)
Todd Petrie (New Zealand)

TMO:
Estelle Whaiapu (New Zealand)

Source:[15][16][17]

Statistics

As of 12th April 2025

Leading point scorers

No. Player Team Points Average Details
1 Hannah King Matatū 51 7.3 1 T, 16 C, 4 P, 0 D
2 Krysten Cottrell Blues 44 6.3 1 T, 17 C, 1 P, 0 D
3 Ruahei Demant Blues 43 6.14 5 T, 9 C, 0 P, 0 D
4 Renee Holmes Chiefs 39 6.50 3 T, 9 C, 2 P, 0 D
5 Ruby Tui Chiefs 30 5.0 5 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D
6 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Blues 25 3.6 5 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D
Winnie Palamo Matatū 25 3.6 5 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D
8 Cassie Siataga Hurricanes 21 3.5 1 T, 8 C, 0 P, 0 D
9 Kaipo Olsen-Baker Matatū 20 3.33 4 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D
Sylvia Brunt Blues 20 3.33 4 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D

Leading try scorers

No. Player Team Tries Average
1 Ruby Tui Chiefs 6 1.0
2 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Blues 5 0.71
Ruahei Demant Blues 5 0.71
Winnie Palamo Matatū 5 0.71
5 Kaipo Olsen-Baker Matatū 4 0.67
Sylvia Brunt Blues 4 0.67
Lucy Jenkins Matatū 4 0.67
Braxton Sorenson-McGee Blues 4 0.67
9 Amy du Plessis Matatū 3 0.43
Renee Holmes Chiefs 3 0.43

Players

Squads

The following squads were named for the 2025 season.[18][19]

Blues Women squad [20]
Forwards Eloise Blackwell • Dajian Brown • Oceane Donelley • Sophie Fisher • Holly Greenway • Aldora Itunu • Atlanta Lolohea • Liana Mikaele-Tu′u • Paris Mataroa • Elizabith Moimoi • Lily Murray-Wihongi • Cheyenne Tuli-Fale • Maiakawanakaulani Roos • Awhina Tangen-Wainohu • Harono Te Iringa • Ma′ama Vaipulu • Chryss Viliko
Backs Kahlia Awa • Sylvia Brunt • Krysten Cottrell • Ruahei Demant • Kerri Johnson • Jaymie Kolose • Danii Mafoe • Patricia Maliepo • Daynah Nankivell • Braxton Sorensen-McGee • Tara-Leigh Turner • Katelyn Vaha'akolo • Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Coach Willie Walker
Chiefs Manawa squad [21]
Forwards Mia Anderson • Rebecca Burch • Jade Coates • Luka Connor • Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu • Vici-Rose Green • Logan Hauraki • Kate Henwood • Chyna Hohepa • Grace Houpapa-Barrett • Tanya Kalounivale • Grace Kukutai • Martha Mataele • Krystal Murray • Charmaine Smith • Santo Taumata • Kennedy Tukuafu
Backs Reese Anderson • Ariana Bayler • Kelly Brazier • Renee Holmes • Rosie Kelly • Azalleyah Ma′aka • Kiriana Nolan • Holli O'Sullivan • Mererangi Paul • Shoshanah Seumanutafa • Hazel Tubic • Ruby Tui • Tenika Willison
Coach Dwayne Sweeney
Hurricanes Poua squad [12]
Forwards Denise Aiolupotea • Forne Burkin • Natalie Delamere • Lavinia Lea • Olioli Mua • Angel Mulu • Joanah Ngan-Woo • Jayme Nuku • Jackie Patea-Fereti • Elinor Plum-King • Nina Poletti • Layla Sae • Ngano Taveke • Samantha Taylor • Kahurangi Sturmey • Esther Faiaoga-Tilo
Backs Shakira Baker • Raedeen Blake • Teilah Ferguson • Te Rauoriwa Gapper • Leilani Hakiwai • Iritana Hohaia • Harmony Kautai • Ayesha Leti-I'iga • Paige Lush • Cassie Siataga • Rangimarie Sturmey • Monica Tagoai • Payton Takimoana • Isabella Waterman
Coach Fusi Feaunati
Matatū squad [22]
Forwards Laura Bayfield • Alana Bremner (c) • Chelsea Bremner • Grace Brooker • Emma Dermody • Eilis Doyle • Jett Hayward • Tegan Hollows • Lucy Jenkins • Sarah Jones • Pip Love • Kaipo Olsen-Baker • Mo'omo'oga Ashley Palu • Marcelle Parkes • Georgia Ponsonby • Amy Rule • Fiaali'i Solomona
Backs Amy du Plessis • Maia Joseph • Hannah King • Fia Laikong • Kelsyn McCook • Hollyrae Mete • Kaea Nepia • Winnie Palamo • Abigail Paton • Chey Robins-Reti • Keighley Simpson • Tayla Simpson • Charlotte Va'afusaga
Coach Whitney Hansen

See also

References

  1. ^ Williamson, Nathan (20 November 2024). "Crossover trans-Tasman Final confirmed as 2025 Super Rugby Women's Draw announced". Rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024.
  2. ^ Meikle, Hayden (21 November 2024). "Transtasman final for women's teams". Otago Daily Times. Allied Press. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  3. ^ Lester, Ned (20 November 2024). "Super Rugby Aupiki and Super W champions set to square off in 2025". Rugbypass. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Super Rugby Aupiki final recap: Blues Women v Chiefs Manawa". Radio New Zealand. 13 April 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024.
  5. ^ Pearson, Joseph (13 April 2024). "Recap: Blues stun Chiefs Manawa to win Super Rugby Aupiki final". Stuff. Stuff Ltd.
  6. ^ Julian, Adam (2025-04-12). "Blues Seal Consecutive Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Titles at Eden Park". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-04-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ Reive, Christopher (2025-04-12). "Blues go back-to-back as Super Rugby Aupiki champions". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-04-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2025". superrugby.co.nz. 31 October 2024. Archived from the original on 15 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Chiefs, Māori All Black Dwayne Sweeney appointed head coach of Chiefs Manawa". chiefs.co.nz. 6 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Adam Thomson and Sona Taumalolo join Chiefs Manawa coaching team for 2025". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. 5 December 2024. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Hurricanes Poua appoint new Head Coach for 2025". hurricanes.co.nz. 13 August 2024. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Hurricanes Poua Announce Squad for 2025". hurricanes.co.nz. 30 October 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Leadership at Matatū". Matatū. 2024-12-19. Retrieved 2025-02-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Champions Final headlines 2025 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki draw announcement". superrugby.co.nz. 20 November 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024.
  15. ^ "nib BLUES NAME EXCITING TEAM FOR AUPIKI FINAL". Blues Rugby. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-04-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Team for Final v Blues Named". Matatū. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-04-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "2025 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Teams: Grand Final". allblacks.com. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-04-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2025". NZ Rugby. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Super Rugby Aupiki squads named for 2025". RNZ. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-02-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "HOMEGROWN TALENT HEADLINES 2025 nib BLUES SQUAD". Blues Rugby. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Stars return to Chiefs Manawa for 2025 campaign". Chiefs. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ "2025 Squad Named". Matatū. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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