In the inaugural fixture at North Harbour Stadium on 17 April 2025, the Blues overwhelmed the visitors 36-5. The Blues carried 187 times for 1,139 metres. The Waratahs gained 363 metres with 77 carries.
Dazzling fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee scored two tries, but the forwards' effort stood out. Openside Taufa Bason was immense. No. 8 Elizabeth Moimoi celebrated her first Blues try, and prop Chryss Viliko and lock Maama Vaipulu marked their milestone 20th matches with style.
For the Waratahs, centre Georgia Friedrichs snatched two turnovers and defended staunchly. Openside and captain Emily Chancellor was similarly resolute, with tighthead prop Falika Pohiva applying jolting shots. Their try was scored by winger Desiree Miller, who scored three in their 43-20 win over the Reds in the 2025 Super Rugby W Grand Final.
The Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Grand Final last Saturday at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch ended spectacularly. The Blues scored a try after the siren with scores tied 21-21 to win a third consecutive title, defeating Matatū 28-21. Katelyn Vahaakolo is the leading try scorer in Aupiki history with 19 tries in 25 matches. The Black Ferns winger has played in 17 of the Blues' 20 victories and broke the southerners' hearts. She came off the bench to score the match-winning try. This time she starts with Counties Manukau's Sariyah Paitai occupying the right wing.
The Blues' biggest loss from their Grand Final is two-try hero Atlanta Lolohea, her replacement is former Black Fern hooker Grace Gago. Veteran lock Eloise Blackwell starts, as do Taufa Bason and two-time Black Ferns Rugby World Cup winner Hazel Tubic at first five-eighth.
On the bench, Danny-Elle Fesolai has featured in six Aupiki games; Counties Manukau prop Harono Te Iringa has been impactful and Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant and Mererangi Paul provide valuable depth.
Similar to the Blues, who lost consecutive matches for the first time since 2023 and rallied to win their last three matches to take the Aupiki title, the Waratahs gained momentum in their campaign.
They finished third in the regular season with a two-win, two-loss record but upset the Western Force 33-22 in the semi-finals in Perth, with Sevens superstar Tia Hinds scoring two tries. They travelled to Fiji and toppled the Fijian Drua 34-17 in the Super Rugby W Grand Final, leading 24-0 after 50 minutes. In 2024 and 2025, the Waratahs won 12 of their 13 matches. Fourteen Waratahs players were named in the Wallaroos squad for the Pacific Four Series in April.
Up front, proven international performers Leilani Nathan, vice-captain Kaitlan Leaney, Chancellor (captain) and Piper Duck will face the Blues a second time. Nineteen-year-old Falika Pohiva is another player whose stock is rising.
Miller, the leading points scorer in Super Rugby W with 68 points in six matches, is the biggest absence in the backline. She suffered a calf injury in the Grand Final. Still, the Waratahs can draw upon reigning Wallaroos Player of the Year Maya Stewart, Hinds and Caitlyn Halse, the youngest player, male or female, to represent New South Wales, to challenge the Blues.
Blues captain Maiakawanakaulani Roos said:
"There was a lot of joy last Saturday, but there is another task at hand. They're three-peat champions as well. Rugby in Australia is growing, and there's more depth. They've got quality backs and hearty forwards. We expect a big challenge."
NSW Waratahs coach Mike Ruthven said:
"The players have responded really well following the Grand Final to embrace the challenge and opportunity in front of us this weekend.
"Compared to last year, I feel there's a different mindset and a different vibe around the playing group approaching the Champions Final. Our focus this week has purely been on why and how we can win this game of footy. We know the challenge that the Blues present. We're genuinely excited to take it on."
NSW Waratahs v Blues
Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final
7.30pm NZST Saturday 1 August 2026
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Live on Sky Sport NZ
NSW Waratahs team to face the Blues:
1.Brianna Hoy, 2. Brittany Merlo, 3. Faliki Pohiva, 4. Leilani Nathan, 5. Kaitlan Leaney (vc), 6. Ruby Anderson, 7.Emily Chancellor (c), 8.Piper Duck, 9.Tia Hinds, 10.Waiaria Ellis, 11. Amelia Whitaker, 12. Rosie Ferguson, 13. Pleuni Kievit, 14. Maya Stewart, 15. Caitlyn Halse
Reserves: 16. Nancy Volkman, 17. Emily Robinson, 18. Bridie O’Gorman, 19. Grace Gillies, 20. Nicole Nathan, 21. Taj Heald, 22. Piper Simons, 23. Lusiana Vesikula
Bues team to face the NSW Waratahs:
1. Chryss Viliko, 2. Grace Gago, 3. Aldora Itunu, 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (c), 5. Eloise Blackwell, 6. Amarante Sititi, 7. Taufa Bason, 8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 9. Tara Turner, 10. Hazel Tubic, 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo, 12. Hollyrae Mete-Renata, 13. Sylvia Brunt, 14. Sariyah Paitai, 15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Reserves: 16. Danny-Elle Fesolai, 17. Nijiho Nagata, 18. Harono Te Iringa, 19. Zara Feaunati (potential debut), 20. Tafito Lafaele, 21. Ffion Penney, 22. Ruahei Demant, 23. Mererangi Paul