Super Rugby Pacific Chiefs face to Hurricanes on May 24 in FMG Stadium Waikato, the Chiefs are a professional rugby union side in New Zealand that is headquartered in Hamilton, Waikato. They were once known as the Waikato Chiefs and are now officially recognised as the Gallagher Chiefs due to sponsorship issues. The team is one of the five New Zealand teams who play in the Super Rugby tournament, Super Rugby Pacific which was formerly known as the Super 12 and Super 14. Their principal home stadium is Waikato’s FMG Stadium.
The Hurricanes, originally known as the Wellington Hurricanes, are a professional men’s rugby union side from New Zealand that plays in Super Rugby Pacific and is headquartered in Wellington. The lower North Island, which includes the East Coast, Hawke’s Bay, Horowhenua Kapiti, Manawatū, Poverty Bay, Wairarapa-Bush, Wanganui, and Wellington unions, was represented by the Hurricanes when they were created. They played in the now-defunct Athletic Park before moving to Sky Stadium (formerly known as Westpac Stadium).
The Chiefs were the only team from New Zealand to never make it to the Super Rugby Pacific 12 semi-finals until 2004. That year, the Chiefs advanced to their first semi-final and finished fourth after losing to the ACT Brumbies 37–20 in the semi-final. They went on to the 2009 championship game, but the Bulls defeated them with a record-setting 61–17.
The Hurricanes finished third in the Super Rugby Pacific 12 in 1997 after a dismal inaugural season in 1996. The squad battled in the bottom four of the standings and missed the playoffs for an additional five years. The Hurricanes have advanced to the postseason play-offs seven times in fourteen seasons since 2003. Among those appearances was the 2006 final, which they lost 19–12 to the Crusaders in foggy conditions. The Hurricanes’ finest season to date was 2016, following their 2015 season in which they hosted but lost the championship. After leading the regular season once more and hosting the championship game, they defeated the Lions 20-3 in the end.
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Super Rugby Pacific, Chiefs face to Hurricanes
The Chiefs’ successful 2012 season was rewarded with a home final. The Chiefs won their first championship, defeating the Sharks 37–6. When the Chiefs defeated the Brumbies 27–22 at Waikato Stadium in 2013, they became the fourth side to win the championship twice in a row.
The Chiefs Rugby Club formed its women’s squad in 2021. Originally called the Chiefs women, they are now known as the Chiefs Manawa (officially named Waitomo Chiefs Manawa due to sponsorship). The Waitomo Chiefs Manawa finished second in the league in 2023 and won the first season of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki in 2022.
The Hurricanes, previously known as the Wellington Hurricanes, were one of the five New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific 12 teams when they were founded in 1996. Bull Allen was appointed captain, while former All Black Frank Oliver served as the team’s first coach. The inaugural Super Rugby Pacific 12 match took place at Palmerston North Showgrounds between them and the Auckland Blues. They were defeated 36–28. In the competition’s first year, the team did not perform up to par and came in eighth. The squad advanced to the semi-finals in 1997 but was defeated by the ACT Brumbies in Canberra. But the kind of steady play displayed this season would not be repeated for many years.
Super Rugby Pacific, Hurricanes warn of the Chiefs’ lethal backfield and strong pack
For the first-ever Super Rugby Pacific 12 season in 1996, the Chiefs were originally established as the Waikato Chiefs. Before the Super 12, there was a competition called the Super 10, in which Waikato and other NPC teams competed. After winning six of their eleven regular season games, the Chiefs finished sixth overall in the inaugural season of competition, narrowly missing out on the playoffs. The Chiefs finished 11th the next season after winning four and losing seven games. The Chiefs finished seventh in the final standings in 1998, playing at a level more commensurate with their 1996 campaign.
The Hurricanes didn’t make it to the semi-finals after their 1997 campaign until 2003. They were nevertheless well-known for their offensive backline, which featured Christian Cullen and Tana Umaga, two All Blacks players. The team’s catchphrase, “expect the unexpected,” came from their skillful play and ability to score at any time, regardless of where they were on the pitch. Nonetheless, the group had trouble putting up strong performances when it mattered most during games, which resulted in inconsistent play and outcomes.
The Chiefs, according to assistant coach Cory Jane, were a team that like to move the ball more. The Chiefs like to play a little more, but they’re more dynamic in the backfield—I wouldn’t say they’re more dynamic man for man [than the Blues] because they’re both as talented. They have a large pack that doesn’t mind attempting to beat you up, but they also use their backs and skill sets a little more than the Blues. It’s a good challenge for Super Rugby Pacific us because it’s threats all over the park and, if we get it wrong, they can score from anywhere, and at any time. The Hurricanes had a strong start and were up 19 points before Moana Pasifika’s physicality overwhelmed them. Read more about Super Rugby Pacific Chiefs face to Hurricanes