The Hurricanes enter the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season with renewed attention centered on the return of Jordie Barrett, whose homecoming reshapes both the profile and expectations of the Wellington-based side. 

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Barrett is back after completing his sabbatical with Leinster Rugby, rejoining a Hurricanes team that remained competitive throughout 2025 but fell short of making a deeper postseason run. Barrett helped Leinster win the United Rugby Championship in 2025. 

Rieko Ioane, of the Blues, replaced Barrett on the Leinster roster.

Barrett's return arrives after a solid regular season for the Hurricanes, who finished 2025 with an 8-5-1 record and placed fourth in the standings. 

The campaign again demonstrated the team’s ability to sustain results across the 14-match schedule, earning qualification for the finals, before exiting at the final stage of qualifying. 

Barrett’s presence adds a layer of experience and versatility to a group that already proved capable of consistent performances.

Barrett’s reintegration does come with recent injury context. While playing for the All Blacks in November, he suffered a high ankle sprain, along with a minor knee injury, making his health part of the Hurricanes’ early-season narrative. 

Under head coach Clark Laidlaw and co-captains Brad Shields and Asafo Aumua, the Hurricanes open 2026 based at Sky Stadium with Barrett’s return serving as the defining storyline as the season begins.

Hurricanes Super Rugby Pacific Schedule 2026

• Feb. 20: 1:05 a.m.: Hurricanes vs. Moana Pasifika
• Feb. 27: 10:35 p.m.: Fijian Drua vs. Hurricanes
• March 6: 3:35 a.m.: NSW Waratahs vs. Hurricanes
• March 13: 2:05 a.m.: Hurricanes vs. Western Force
• March 20: 2:05 a.m.: Highlanders vs. Hurricanes
• March 27: 11:35 p.m.: Hurricanes vs. Queensland Reds
• April 11: 3:05 a.m.: Hurricanes vs. Blues
• April 18: 3:05 a.m.: Chiefs vs. Hurricanes
• April 25: 1:05 a.m.: Hurricanes vs. ACT Brumbies
• May 1: 3:05 a.m.: Hurricanes vs. Crusaders
• May 9: 3:05 a.m.: Moana Pasifika vs. Hurricanes
• May 16: 3:05 a.m.: Blues vs. Hurricanes
• May 23: 3:05 a.m.: Hurricanes vs. Highlanders
• May 29: 3:05 a.m.: Crusaders vs. Hurricanes

What Did Hurricanes Do In 2025?

The Hurricanes finished fourth in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific standings with an 8–5–1 record and 39 points, qualifying for the finals after remaining among the competition’s top teams throughout the season.

2025 Super Rugby Pacific Standings

1. Chiefs, 11–3 (51 points)
2. Crusaders, 11–3 (49 points)
3. ACT Brumbies, 9–5 (44 points)
4. Hurricanes, 8–1–5 (39 points)
5. Queensland Reds, 8–6 (38 points)
6. Blues, 6–8 (33 points)
7. Moana Pasifika, 6–8 (28 points)
8. NSW Waratahs, 6–8 (26 points)
9. Western Force, 4–1–9 (23 points)
10. Fijian Drua, 4–10 (20 points)
11. Highlanders, 3–11 (20 points)

The Hurricanes Coach Is Clark Laidlaw

Clark Laidlaw is the head coach of the Hurricanes, leading the Wellington-based side into the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.

When Does The Super Rugby Pacific Season Start?

The 30th season of Super Rugby begins with Round 1 on Feb. 13, with the first game being in Dunedin between the Highlanders and Crusaders at 1:05 a.m. ET. 

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Rewatch every match of the 2025 Super Rugby season on FloRugby and the FloSports app. 

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