Sevu Reece names the biggest threat to his Super Rugby try-scoring record

Sevu Reece is set to depart the Crusaders as Super Rugby’s all-time leading try-scorer, having scored 66 in his 88 games. In 2026, he’s eager to extend that tally to prolong his reign, knowing some electric talents will soon be nipping at his heels.

Reece overtook TJ Perenara for the No.1 spot earlier this year, and is joined by Julian Savea as active players in the top 10. Savea currently sits three tries behind Reece with 63, but Reece looked outside the top 10, to someone currently with 47 tries to their name, when predicting who would break his record.

Having committed his future to Perpignan in the Top 14, the 28-year-old said he has to make every game in the coming season count if he is to remain atop the mountain.

“Oh man, I think we’ll try to push it,” he told reporters in Christchurch when asked about the record. “If I could get close to 80, that would be cool. Honestly, I don’t know how long it’ll take, but I think Will Jordan is the next person on my list who I think will break it. Jill, stop scoring tries!”

In addition to wanting to extend the try-scoring record, Reece is hoping to make at least 12 appearances in the 2026 season to become a club centurion.

The Fijian-born flyer said he was “100 per cent” content with his Crusaders career, having won six titles and “given everything” to the jersey in the process.

“When I think of this place, this is home,” he reflected. “My two beautiful girls, they’re from here, my wife is from here, and this is the place that gave me the opportunity to fulfil all of my dreams of becoming a professional rugby player, let alone an All Black.

“On that same note, a big thank you to Razor (Scott Robertson), because he was the one to give me that phone call to come down here. And this is all I know, Rugby Park, Christchurch. That obviously didn’t make my decision any easier, just thinking of how much I’ll miss this place, the friendships, the relationships that I’ve had here in Christchurch, especially at Rugby Park.

“It’s emotional. I’ll miss this place, but we’ve got a few more months with Super Rugby, so we’ll definitely make the most of every minute of it.”

Reece was emphatic when speaking about the difficulty of the decision to leave, but was also candid about the fact that forgoing his All Blacks eligibility was not a primary concern.

“The All Blacks didn’t have much influence over my decision; it was more here at the Crusaders, because this is where it all started for me.

“Just looking ahead, we’ve got good depth here in New Zealand with the outside backs, it won’t even be felt when I leave, just with the depth we’ve got here at the international level and here at the Crusaders.

“The decision was just between me and my family. We’ve got two beautiful little girls growing up, and how awesome would it be for them to experience living overseas?”

Born in Fiji, Reece has brought plenty of the iconic Fijian flair to his time at the NPC, Super Rugby, and Test level. And while he’ll have to wait three years before being eligible for his nation of birth, the idea of a Fiji cap certainly brought a smile to his face.

“I’m leaving now with no looking back. This is the move that we’re going to make, so we’re going to say goodbye to New Zealand, and whatever happens will happen.

“Because I’m from Fiji, I could possibly play for Fiji, and that’d be cool. I grew up in Fiji, and that was the goal for every kid, similar to New Zealand, where every kid wants to be an All Black.

“It would be a full-circle moment, but I’m 28 now, and I don’t know how long that’ll be. But if it happens, it happens.”

After an ACL injury took him out of rugby for a period that included the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Reece feels the best is yet to come, expressing confidence he’s on track to find career-best form.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I should say this now, but I don’t even think that I’ve got to my peak yet, and that’s what excites me. I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of it. Towards the end of 2024, even this year, I feel like I’m just getting there. Exciting times ahead for me personally, and I can’t wait to see what mt rugby’s going to look like.”