Welcome to Aussie Gold Rugby!
Each edition brings together the key stories across Australian rugby, from the Wallabies to Super Rugby Pacific and beyond. We’ll also sprinkle in updates from the wider rugby world.
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Super Rugby Pacific is back for 2026!
Super Rugby Pacific has kicked off and the rugby faithful are already reading the tea leaves, looking for early indicators of their side’s season. The Tahs took the Templeton Cup, trampling a disorganised but depleted Reds side, while the Brumbies travelled west and underlined their class.
Elsewhere, the Six Nations brought an unconvincing Ireland, Scottish pride and French flair.
🗓️ This week’s results
The Aussie sides
Waratahs win over Reds rabble
NSW ran in a decisive 36–12 win over Queensland in Sydney, controlling territory and tempo from the outset. The Waratahs’ back three finished sharply and the pack dominated the collisions.
The Reds, down to their third-string scrum and fly-half, showed patches of cohesion but struggled to exit under sustained defensive pressure. A hard-chasing Waratahs line kept Queensland pinned in the wrong areas of the field for long stretches.
Read more (waratahs.rugby.com.au)
Force melt as Brumbies bring the heat
The Brumbies ran out 56–24 winners in Perth after overturning an early Force lead on a sweltering afternoon in the west.
The Force started sharply, but Charlie Cale’s first of two tries signalled the turn. Once the ACT side settled, it was one-way traffic. Declan Meredith bumped off two supposedly rugged forwards, Tizzano and Paenga-Amosa, to put the men from Canberra ahead, and from there the Brumbies’ structure and physical edge steadily broke the contest open.
There were standouts across the Brumbies side, but you get the sense Stephen Larkham could coach the local park side into a competitive Super Rugby outfit.
Read more (brumbies.rugby.com.au)
The rest
Highlanders hold nerve to halt Crusaders
In a tense Dunedin contest, the Highlanders edged the defending champions 25–23. A late penalty proved the difference after a seesaw contest where discipline and composure under pressure separated the sides.
Drua surge past Moana in battle of the Pacific
Fijian Drua defeated Moana Pasifika 32–24 in Lautoka, overpowering their visitors with second-half surges and relentless breakdown pressure. Two late tries sealed victory after a bruising, high-tempo contest swung repeatedly.
Chiefs edge Blues in Auckland arm wrestle
The Chiefs defeated the Blues 27–22 in a tense, tactical battle, managing territory and tempo before a late penalty created breathing room. The margin reflected a contest decided by patience and precision.
Hurricanes: BYE
🏆 Round 1 standings
The Australian sides bookend the ladder after Round One. Bonus-point wins have the Brumbies and Waratahs setting the early pace, while the Reds and Force prop up the table after damaging opening losses dented their points difference.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACT Brumbies | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | NSW Waratahs | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | Moana Pasifika | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Chiefs | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Highlanders | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | Crusaders | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Hurricanes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Fijian Drua | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Queensland Reds | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | Western Force | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
🌏 In other news
Six Nations round 2 brings quality and queries
Ireland unconvincing as Italy come close to making history
Ireland edged Italy 20–13 in a tense arm wrestle in Dublin, but the performance raised more questions than answers. Rebounding from defeat to France, the hosts struggled to impose themselves against an Italian side buoyed by victory in Rome.
Holly Davidson became the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations match as the contest swung with the sin bin. Italy led 10–5 at half-time after capitalising on a Craig Casey yellow card, and Ireland were forced to grind their way back through phase pressure to see off a spirited finish.
Roses wilt on Valentine’s Day as Scotland reclaim Calcutta Cup
Scotland dismantled England 31–20 at Murrayfield, responding emphatically after a flat opening round. Huw Jones’ early try set the tone, and Finn Russell orchestrated the early surge with pinpoint passing, stretching England’s defence and keeping the hosts firmly on the front foot.
England’s discipline unravelled as they spent 30 minutes with 14 men and struggled to contain Scotland’s tempo. Gregor will sleep a lot better this week.
France play to type with flashy win over Wales
Les Bleus delivered a sparkling 54–12 victory over a disjointed Wales in Cardiff, embracing the flair and tempo that have come to define them.
France struck inside two minutes and added another shortly after, threatening to run riot early. Wales steadied and clawed back a try of their own, but the French found their rhythm again to take control by half-time.
The second half brought more brilliance from the visitors. Clinical finishing and depth off the bench stretched Wales beyond their limits, with only fleeting resistance interrupting the flow.