Aussie Rugby Revival: A Surge in Popularity as Competition Thrives Across the Tasman

Super Rugby Pacific is thriving.

Initial reports suggest that enthusiasm for the tournament has escalated to unprecedented levels across both New Zealand and Australia this season, building on the impressive viewing figures recorded in 2024.

Data from the opening six rounds indicates a rise in interest in both countries, with Australia now featuring four teams after the Melbourne Rebels were let go due to financial issues at the conclusion of the last season.

In Australia, viewership on Nine has soared by approximately 17 per cent compared to the previous season, while streaming platform Stan has reported an increase of 11 per cent.

For the first time since 2015, Sydney and Brisbane are routinely seeing attendances of over 20,000 fans at their matches.

This surge in interest can largely be attributed to the genuine competitiveness displayed by Australian teams this year.

While New Zealand’s Chiefs and Crusaders sit atop the standings, Australian teams occupy spots 3 through 6 after the initial six rounds.

Last crowned champions in 2014, the NSW Waratahs are stepping up their game.

The Queensland Reds (third), Waratahs (fourth), ACT Brumbies (fifth), and Western Force (sixth) are all competing vigorously in 2025.

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“Depth has always posed a challenge for us, and unfortunately, the loss of the Rebels has provided some teams with additional depth,” remarked former Wallabies captain James Horwill during an episode of Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.

“We’ve seen teams winning on the road… the entire ecosystem is really starting to function well.

“I don’t think we’ve reached our full potential yet, but having four teams in the top six after so many rounds is a promising start.”

Former Wallabies player Morgan Turinui cautioned that the upcoming fixtures will become more challenging for some Australian teams, starting with the Waratahs’ match against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.

“We just need to temper expectations a bit due to the quality of the teams our Australian sides will be facing soon,” Turinui explained.

“However, what’s encouraging is that they’re in a position to make a significant leap forward. The Force have made great strides, but there’s still room for improvement.

“The Tahs have plenty of room for growth. The Reds showed resilience, especially on the road last weekend.

“We know the Brumbies can perform better than what we saw last weekend. So, having four in the top six is great, but there’s still work to do across the board.”

The 2024 season witnessed a 12 per cent boost in viewership in New Zealand, home to five of the eleven Super Rugby teams.

Nielsen data revealed that 2.4 million Kiwis tuned in to watch matches across free-to-air, pay TV, and digital platforms.

Over 640,000 viewers in New Zealand watched last year’s final between the Blues and the Chiefs on television, with an additional 113,000 streaming the match online.

According to Sky TV, New Zealand’s viewership has again surged by 12 per cent.

More than 1.1 million fans have engaged with matches on free-to-air, pay TV, or digital platforms in New Zealand.

“What excites me is that even casual rugby fans, who typically wait for the Wallabies to start playing, are now starting to tune in to Super Rugby Pacific,” noted Stan Sport commentator Sean Maloney.

“And it’s not just a small trickle, there’s a significant influx of interest. It’s becoming quite a wave of enthusiasm, and I’m all for it, as the kids say.”

No More Woeful Waratahs

Last season, the Waratahs found themselves at the bottom of the table.

However, this season, after five matches and a bye, they currently sit fourth with a 4-1 record.

Their resurgence peaked on Saturday as they defeated fierce rivals the Brumbies for the first time in 14 encounters, a streak that dates back to 2018.

New Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, previously with the Brumbies, witnessed his team clinch a dramatic victory in a contentious derby, ending with a score of 28-23 in front of over 20,000 spectators in Sydney.

Despite trailing 21-18 with 12 minutes remaining after a try from Luke Reimer, Max Jorgensen set up the decisive try for Joey Walton six minutes later.

The match showcased the Waratahs’ solid defence against rolling mauls and their ability to capitalise on turnovers.

The Brumbies committed seven turnovers in the first half, with the Waratahs capitalising on two of those opportunities.

They also managed to withstand the Brumbies’ charge, allowing them to score 17 points after the break.

Seeking to prove their worth following criticism after a disappointing 35-15 defeat to the Reds the previous weekend, the Waratahs were intent on redemption.

“Our integrity was called into question throughout the week, and that’s a tough pill to swallow as a rugby player and as a club,” stated captain Hugh Sinclair.

“A lot has been said about us, and we responded quite well.”

Blues in Despair

What’s gone wrong for the Blues?

This is perhaps the most frequently asked question in Super Rugby this season.

After six rounds, the reigning champions find themselves languishing in 10th place with a disheartening 1-5 record.

This comes as a considerable shock for a side filled with All Blacks talent.

On Saturday, the Blues suffered a harsh defeat to the Crusaders, losing 42-19 at home, marking their worst loss of the season to date.

Despite boasting ten All Blacks in their 23-man squad, they’re grappling with injury woes, with twelve players sidelined, including All Blacks Beauden Barrett, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, and Sam Darry.

This reflects the broader trend of injuries affecting the tournament this year.

Across all eleven teams, over 70 players were unavailable for the sixth round due to injuries.

Against the Crusaders, the Blues seemed to be their own worst enemies, plagued by a continuous stream of mistakes, breakdown turnovers, and disciplinary issues.

Their set pieces also struggled for cohesion.

Saturday’s loss was the Blues’ third consecutive defeat at home.

“If I’m honest, we’re hating it,” admitted coach Vern Cotter.

“Losing at home by such a margin is tough, but we’ll use this as fuel to improve. It’s not all negative, but today is certainly a tough day.”

If the Blues do not raise their game in the second half of the season, they risk missing out on a playoff spot.

Cotter shared that Blues manager Richard Fry had a fitting golf analogy for their situation.

“He said, ‘We haven’t performed well on the front nine. We’ll need to up our game on the back nine.’ We definitely need a few birdies.”