Super Rugby Pacific has turned the ship around in the right direction

It’s not often I agree with administrators. 

But, on this occasion, I’m reasonably happy to concur with the sentiments of Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley. 

In an interview last week Mesley said “this is the best season across some of our core measures in Super Rugby history.’’ 

He didn’t really say what those were, with much of his commentary on the start of the 2025 more around ‘feels’ than facts. 

But he was dead right about one thing. 

“We want jeopardy in our competition, right? We want ladder movement. We don’t want teams to stay in the same ladder position that they were in last year. 

“We want unexpected results. We want every fan to be sitting here on a Friday at lunchtime going ‘I’m a chance this weekend’.’’ 

Super Rugby Pacific

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Chiefs

5

4

1

0

18

2

Crusaders

4

3

1

0

14

3

Reds

4

3

1

0

14

4

Brumbies

5

3

2

0

14

5

Waratahs

4

3

1

0

13

6

Highlanders

4

2

2

0

10

7

Hurricanes

5

2

3

0

9

8

Force

5

2

3

0

9

9

Blues

5

1

4

0

7

10

Fijian Drua

5

1

4

0

7

11

Moana Pasifika

4

1

3

0

6

I’m compelled to watch rugby every weekend, because I get paid to write about it. But this year I actually want to watch it and there’s a world of difference between those two scenarios. 

I wanted to know if the Reds could beat the Waratahs this weekend. I was eager to see if the Highlanders would continue to do themselves proud, and I’d wanted to see the Chiefs really put a score on the Blues. 

Super Rugby Pacific is right to give referees the licence to run the game, rather than delegating authority to the Television Match Official. It is right that the governing body is trying to limit the presence of water-bottle runners on the paddock; it is right to try and play on when a lineout throw isn’t straight instead of halting proceedings for yet another scrum. 

Those things don’t produce upsets or close matches, but they contribute to less aggravations among the viewing public and help minimise the impact and length of stoppages. 

This is a promising season and the word “best’’ is a big one, no matter what metrics you’re judging it by. 

The first season of Super Rugby would take some topping. We nearly all ended up as Blues fans that year and revelled in their win over the Sharks in the final. 

For me, Super Rugby’s best years were around the turn of the millennium, when the Crusaders and Brumbies held sway. The speed with which possession was recycled at the breakdown and the minutes the ball was in play remains my benchmark for flowing rugby. 

And if we’re ever putting the words “best’’ and “season’’ in the same sentence, then nothing tops what the Crusaders did in 2011. No, they didn’t win the final that year, but that campaign remains the stuff of legend. 

I’m not sure we’re seeing anything quite that remarkable in 2025 and there might be some who, uncharitably or otherwise, suggest the parity in evidence this season is a result of widespread mediocrity rather than quality. 

Whatever the case, this season is watchable and intriguing and you can’t say that every year. 

I’m not too hung up on how many people are in the stands at each match. These are straightened financial times and as long as people are watching – and viewing figures suggest they definitely are – and they’re heavily invested in the outcome of games, then your competition’s in good heart. 

I don’t know who’s going to win each weekend and that’s undoubtedly a good thing.