2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season

2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season
Countries	New Zealand
Tournament format(s)	Round-robin and knockout
Champions	Blues (2nd title)
Matches played	13
Tries scored	104 (8 per match)
Top point scorer(s)	Hannah King (51 points) Matatū
Top try scorer(s)	Ruby Tui (6 tries) Chiefs Manawa
Official website	Super Rugby Aupiki
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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

Blues

Chiefs Manawa

Hurricanes Poua

Matatū

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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 v t e	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 Manawa	25–31	Matatū
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 Poua	10–50	Blues
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)

Blues	24–22	Chiefs 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)

Matatū	29–7	Hurricanes 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)

Matatū	7–28	Blues
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 Manawa	46–7	Hurricanes 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 Poua	24–43	Matatū
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 Manawa	21–36	Blues
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)

Blues	29–37	Matatū
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 Poua	7–27	Chiefs 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)

Matatū	22–28	Chiefs 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)

Blues	49–26	Hurricanes 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)

Blues	26–19	Matatū
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

• 2025 Super Rugby Women's season
• 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season
• 2025 Womenʼs Super Rugby Champions final

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.
7. Reive, Christopher (2025-04-12). "Blues go back-to-back as Super Rugby Aupiki champions". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
8. "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. "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.
14. "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.
16. "Team for Final v Blues Named". Matatū. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
17. "2025 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Teams: Grand Final". allblacks.com. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
18. "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2025". NZ Rugby. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
19. "Super Rugby Aupiki squads named for 2025". RNZ. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
20. "HOMEGROWN TALENT HEADLINES 2025 nib BLUES SQUAD". Blues Rugby. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
21. "Stars return to Chiefs Manawa for 2025 campaign". Chiefs. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
22. "2025 Squad Named". Matatū. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-29.