Sevu Reece ends try drought in style to equal Super Rugby record

Sevu Reece hadn’t scored in six matches before taking the field for Friday night’s clash between the Crusaders and NSW Waratahs. It was a drought that goes back to March 15, and it had left Reece waiting on the cusp of history, only for the winger to race away for a try in Sydney.

Reece now sits alongside former Hurricanes and All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara as the all-time top try-scorers in Super Rugby history, with 65 tries each, and Moana Pasifika’s Julian Savea is closely behind with 63.

After an incredibly one-sided first half, the Tahs made a game of it early in the second term with quick tries from Langi Gleeson and Miles Amatosero. Fly-half Tane Edmed converted both tries to reduce the once 24-point half-time deficit down to 10 by the 53^rd minute.

While the Tahs played with confidence and momentum during that valiant 13-minute start to the second half, some brilliance from Rivez Reihana and Reece saw the Crusaders take control once again, with the pair creating something special and historic out of nothing.

 

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Instead of trying to catch a high ball, Reece batted the ball away from Tahs inside centre Joey Walton, which went the way of Reihana. Reihana threw a dummy, beat a tackle attempt from Wallaby Jake Gordon, and was suddenly in open pastures upfield.

With only Edmed to beat, Reihana threw a simple draw-and-pass to Reece, who ran about 50 metres to the house for the famous five-pointer. Andrew Kellaway gave it everything trying to stop Reece, even attempting a brave diving tackle, but the flyer was too quick.

“Honestly, this is probably something that at the start of the season I didn’t even know, it wasn’t something that I was chasing. It wasn’t until I got a bit closer to 65 tries and people started hyping it up and stuff,” Reece told RugbyPass after the 48-33 win.

“I kind of got stuck a little bit at 64 but thank God we managed to get a try. It’s pretty special, being right up there with TJ Perenara, we’ve got Julian Savea as well, you know some legends of the game.

“I’m just very humbled to be up there with those boys.”

Ahead of the new season, Reece had 58 career tries to his name, and the winger didn’t waste any time in 2025 by taking a step towards the record in the opening round. Reece scored a try against the Hurricanes in Christchurch, which was the start of a memorable run.

Reece didn’t score the following week away to the Chiefs in Hamilton, but the Queensland Reds and Western Force couldn’t contain the speedster, who registered five tries in those two games, including a hat-trick against the Force.

But that hat-trick was a long time ago.

It was more than 60 days without a try for Reece, who had the record in sight.

“I got to a point where I was like, ‘I really would love to score a try’ and I ended up chasing it a little bit,” Reece reflected.

“I think tonight, I just tried to play my game. I’m at the pint as well now where I’m just like, if it comes it comes.

“I was so confident I was going to get one try before the season finishes. Just so stoked that I managed to get that one try today.”

The Crusaders held on for a confidence-building win over the Waratahs, as they bounced back from a loss to the Chiefs in Christchurch last time out. That result means the Crusaders have control of their own destiny – they will finish top two with a winning end to the round-robin.

It’s a big couple of weeks for the Crusaders, and it could potentially be another history-making end to the regular season for Reece. Reece joins Perenara as the co-record-holder for all-time tries in Super Rugby, but the winger only needs one more to go outright first.

In the team’s final home match of the regular season at Apollo Projects Stadium, Reece wants to score what would be another famous try, when the Crusaders take on the Highlanders on Friday, March 23.

“The bright side of it, I was saving it, so hopefully we break the record back at home next week,” he added.

“Don’t worry Christchurch, we’ll try break it at home and we can all celebrate together.

“We’ve got a home game next week, what better way to get one more try in front of my family, my people back in Christchurch?”