2026 Aupiki Final

A final has arrived to mark the end of a season like no other. We have always been promised that Aupiki would be the leveling up of domestic women's rugby but this year, year five, it has actually felt like it.

We've seen all franchises now lock into their women's team for at least a season. We've seen record breaking crowds that have outstripped Black Ferns attendance post Rugby World Cup. We have seen 37 debutantes given the best possible launchpad alongside veterans of the competition with all athletes now full time*. We have seen the quality of the footy simply better than ever before.

*My usual caveat here that NZR have got off too cheap. A hub Aupiki contract is just $25,000. That's only $5,000 more than the partial weeks paid last year. Double your hours for a fractional pay bump is a joke and a barrier for some of athlete's participation. I know of players who walked away because they could not manage this financial equation despite their love of the game.

Back to the joy of this season. There will be something I will write in future about what this season was to experience as a fan. It's not even to do with the wins my home team secured. It was the whole experience that honestly, healed the little kid in me.

It's been an adventure and now tomorrow, there's just 80 minutes left until we crown our next champion. So let's get into it.

AUPIKI FINAL - MATATŪ VS BLUES
Te Kaha Stadium, 4.20pm

"I think we subconsciously had a safety net in the last two games we probably didn't play for that full eighty, didn't pull trigger when we needed to pull trigger. We don't have a safety net this game and I think we're gonna be pretty exciting and will just pull things out"
- Grace Brooker, Matatū Captain

Matatū started this season with the biggest possible splash. A record breaking crowd witnessed a try-fest against the Manawa. They backed it up a week later, squeaking home against their ol' boogey team the Poua before completing the set with a win the Blues. Riding high, they secured a record four game winning streak to start the season with another victory against the Manawa.

Then the injury headache came. One massive one in the form of Hannah King. Sidelined for the rest of the season with a hand injury, their game driver was out. The one who had combined so beautifully with Maia Joseph to lift this team up. The one who had kicked them into victory. Their 76.9% successful conversions without King has dropped to 60%. Finals are won in these margins, they need to convert all their opportunities tomorrow.

Matatū have also been left exposed at set piece. At the end of round three they had a 96% success rate at scrums but on the eve on the final, this has dropped to 88%. Tomorrow they face up against best scrum and line out in the comp. They need their front row to stand and deliver. Having Georgia Ponsonby on the bench is going to be a get out of jail free card they may need to play sooner than later.

Can the Matatū get it done? Yes but...

...they need steel from Marcelle Parkes, Santo Taumata and their interchange.
...they need Charntay Poko to play the game of her life.
...they need Elinor-Plum King to play her Black Fern selection performance.
...they need Grace Brooker, Laura Bayfield and Amy du Plessis to be heroes.
...they need Kaipo Olsen-Baker to carry them all on their back.
...they need the width and tempo from round one.
...they need the defensive mongrel in round five.
...they need their home crowd to play 80 minutes too.

But, but, but, the Blues.

"Nothings been perfect... we've sharpened our swords and our super powers in other areas...it's been so fun to see us as players but also as a team come into what we know our game can be."
- Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Blues Captain

We knew what the Blues were capable of and have been begging/fearing that return to form each week, depending on whether or not they were playing your team. Well, the star studded team have clicked into place in what seems like just the right time to win the competition's first three-peat.

If the Blues each play what they are capable of, there isn't a weak spot across the team sheet. Their stats are the same. 52 clean breaks this season to the Matatū's 37. 142 defenders beaten to Matatū 136. Just under a 1000 more metres gained. It speaks to the attacking power of this team. The one we saw run a try in from over 80 metres out, against the run of play.

If this Blues team turn up, we will see some absolutely gorgeous rugby tomorrow and they will win. Angles cut acutely by Braxton Sorensen-McGee and her wings. Power up the guts from 1-8, heck, 12 and 13 too! Ruahei Demant locked in, playing with the cool headed fire that made her a world champion.

Matatū will need to diligent stack their playing cards to take a win but the winds of the Blues momentum may just be enough to blow it all over.

With you,
Alice