Super Rugby Pacific Team Tracker: Waratahs make big call on Joseph Suaalii while Blues boosted by long-awaited return of All Blacks stars

Check out the teams ahead of the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific, where the Waratahs have named Joseph Suaalii at outside centre for their Australian derby against the Reds in Sydney on Friday.

There is plenty of excitement ahead of the commencement of this year’s tournament and there are five matches scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

The action kicks off in Dunedin, where the Highlanders host the defending Super Rugby Pacific champions, the Crusaders, in a New Zealand derby before focus shifts to Sydney, where Wallabies star Suaalii will wear the number 13 jersey for the Waratahs.

Suaalii has shone in that position for the Wallabies since he made the switch from rugby league to rugby union in 2024, but was used mostly at full-back by the Waratahs during their 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

Meanwhile, the Blues will host the Chiefs at Eden Park on Saturday, and the home side have been boosted by the long-awaited return to action of All Blacks duo Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Stephen Perofeta.

Front-rower Tu’ungafasi has been out of action with a neck injury for the past 10 months, while utility back Perofeta has been sidelined for nine months after developing chronic calf issues.

Tu’ungafasi and Perofeta have both been included in the Blues’ run-on side for the clash with the Chiefs, with the latter packing down at tighthead prop, and the former will start at fly-half.

Friday

Highlanders v Crusaders
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Lucas Casey, 7 Sean Withy (cc), 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a

Crusaders: 15 Chay Fihaki, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Seb Calder, 2 George Bell, 1 Finlay Brewis
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Taha Kemara, 23 Will Jordan

Waratahs v Reds
Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Waratahs: 15 James Hendren, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (c), 3 Dan Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Triston Reilly

All Blacks’ breakout star to miss entire Super Rugby Pacific season in massive blow

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Vaiuta Latu, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Seru Uru, 20 John Bryant, 21 James Martens, 22 Finn Mackay, 23 Xavier Rubens

Saturday

Fijian Drua v Moana Pasifika
Churchill Park, Lautoka

Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (cc), 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Penaia Cakobau, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Joseva Tamani, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Frank Lomani (cc), 22 Isikeli Rabitu, 23 Epeli Momo

Moana: 15 William Havili, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Lalomilo Lalomila, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (c), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Dominic Ropeti, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Denzel Samoa, 23 Glen Vaihu

Blues v Chiefs
Eden Park, Auckland

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Akhi, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i (c), 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Sam Darry, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Xavi Taele, 23 Codemeru Vai

Chiefs: 15 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (c), 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Kaylum Boshier, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Jared Proffit
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Benet Kumeroa, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Kyle Brown

Western Force v Brumbies
HBF Park, Perth

Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Divad Palu, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Bayley Kuenzle, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 5 Franco Molina, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Will Harris, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Max Burey, 23 Kurtley Beale

Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Tevita Alatini, 19 Toby Macpherson, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton

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