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Hurricanes set to host Blues and Chiefs in game of three halves

(Photo by Elias Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Upper Hutt’s Maidstone Park will play host to the Hurricanes pre-season clash against the Blues and the Chiefs on February 13.

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It is the first time the venue has held a Super Rugby fixture, let alone a game of three halves – in which the three squads will all get to play each other for forty minutes.

Upper Hutt Mayor, Wayne Guppy, says the fixture will not only draw fans locally but from the Wairarapa as well.

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“Upper Hutt is excited to host some of New Zealand’s biggest rugby stars. We’ll be coming along to show our support at our fortress, ‘The Stone’ (Maidstone Park).”

Hurricanes CEO, Avan Lee, says that excitement is mutual.

“It’s awesome to be able to put this game on for the people of Upper Hutt. The council, mayor and Upper Hutt Rams Rugby Football Club have been fantastic to deal with and we cannot wait for the 13th to roll around.”

Maidstone Park is Upper Hutt’s most central park, sitting within proximity to the local train station and other public transportation.

Guppy says not only is it easy to get to, but it’s also a really lovely place to watch sport on a Saturday afternoon – especially in summer.

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“At a grassroots level, this is where rugby begins, it’s a great opportunity to bring a showcase of the very best to our city.”

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Hurricanes assistant coach, Cory Jane, who resides in the area and is a member of the Upper Hutt Rams.

“We’re rugby mad in Upper Hutt, which is one of the many reasons I love it here so much. I’m also really looking forward to seeing this club of mine heaving with supporters on game day.”

The fixture will take place just two weeks before the first round of Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa officially kicks off on Saturday, 27 February. That weekend, the Hurricanes play the Blues from 7:05pm at Sky Stadium.

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Jane says pre-season will be a good way to tell how things are tracking ahead of that first game.

“It’s been all go since assembling earlier this month. The boys have been grafting really hard to get their fitness up and come together as a unit. I think we’ve made some great progress already, but pre-season will be good gauge for what is working and what needs some tweaking before round one.”

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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