After launching as Australia’s domestic competition in 2025, the 2026 Super Rugby AUS draw has officially been confirmed, set to take place across September and October.
Following the same format of last year’s round robin tournament and final, the competition draw has been released in tandem with the Super Rugby U16s tournament, which will take on a new model format.
Watch every second of the Wallabies 2026 season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
The 2025 Super Rugby AUS season saw the NSW Waratahs emerge as inaugural champions, coming from behind to defeated the Western Force 33-26 at the grand final in Wanneroo, a try in the final minute deciding the match.
Of equal note was the exciting talent that announced themselves for senior honours, including Henry Robertson, Clem Halaholo, Jimmy Hendren and Sid Harvey, with Max Burey named as Player of the Tournament.
Following the success of tie-in events like the Santos Festival of Rugby, 2026 will see the competition go out to several regional grounds and established rugby venues, the ACT Brumbies kicking off the season against the Waratahs in Bungendore on September 12th.
The Santos Festival of Rugby will also feature again, with the Queensland Reds set to host the Waratahs at Fox Gallas Park in Roma.
Last year’s runners up the Western Force will also take a game out to a suburban ground, with North Coast Rugby Club set to host their round two fixture against the Brumbies.
Starting a weekend behind Super Rugby AUS, Super Rugby U16s will once again feature the four Super Rugby sides and a Victorian representative team, with no finals fixture, the the champion being determined by the final competition ladder.
Victoria will kick off the competition in Melbourne on September 19th, with a unique model being adapted for the tournament in all squads going into camp while playing back-to-back fixtures in Canberra.
The Force will play all of their 2026 fixtures at Viking Park, while the Reds, after their opening two fixtures, will play their final two matches at Ballymore in Brisbane.
The Waratahs will kick off their season against the Brumbies in Canberra, with clashes against the Force and Victoria in Sydney.
The final match of the season will see the Reds and Waratahs do battle at Ballymore, on Saturday 10th October, closing out the men’s domestic season for the year.
All games of Super Rugby AUS will be broadcast live on the rugby.com.au YouTube channel.
Round 1
Queensland Reds v Western Force - 1.30 pm Saturday 12 September - Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs - 2:00 pm Sunday 13 September - Bungendore Sports Hub, Bungendore
Round 2
Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs - 5.45 pm Saturday 19 September - Fox Gallas Park, Roma
Western Force v ACT Brumbies - 1.30 pm Sunday 20 September - North Coast Rugby Club, Perth
Round 3
NSW Waratahs v Western Force - 1:00 pm Sunday 27 September - Pittwater Rugby Park, Sydney
ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds - 2:00pm Sunday 27 September - Viking Park, Canberra
Grand Final
1 v 2 - Saturday 3 October - TBC
Victoria v ACT Brumbies - 12.30 pm Saturday 19 September - TBC Melbourne
ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs - 1:00 pm Saturday 26 September - Viking Park, Canberra
Western Force v Queensland Reds - 2.45 pm Saturday 26 September - Viking Park, Canberra
Victoria v Queensland Reds - 1:00 pm Tuesday 29 September - Viking Park, Canberra
NSW Waratahs v Western Force - 3:00 pm Tuesday 29 September - TBC Sydney
Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies - 12:00 pm Saturday 3 October - Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Western Force v Victoria - 3:00 pm Saturday 3 October - Viking Park, Canberra
Western Force v Brumbies - 11.30 am Tuesday 6 October - Viking Park, Canberra
NSW Waratahs v Victoria - 2:00 pm Tuesday 6 October - TBC Sydney
Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs - 1.30 pm Saturday 10 October - Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
