Crusaders and Chiefs to battle it out for Super Rugby Pacific title
- Sanzaar Media
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The Crusaders will meet the Chiefs in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday.
The Crusaders have won 12 Super Rugby titles, along with the two editions of Super Rugby Aotearoa and have remarkably never lost a Super Rugby Finals fixture in Christchurch.
The Chiefs, who suffered defeat in the last two Super Rugby Pacific Grand Finals, are chasing their first Super Rugby title since going back-to-back in 2012 and 2013.
The two sides met in the 2023 Grand Final at a sold-out FMG Stadium Waikato, where the Crusaders prevailed 25-20.
The Crusaders have staged one of the biggest year-on-year turnarounds in Super Rugby history, having finished the 2024 season in ninth place.
The Chiefs advance after finishing top of the table in the 2025 regular season. Although they lost their Qualifying Final against the Blues, they have taken advantage of their second life, defeating the ACT Brumbies to progress to their fifth Grand Final.
The most capped referee in Super Rugby history, Angus Gardner, will referee the title decider in Christchurch.
He will be joined by assistant referees Damon Murphy and Matt Kellahan, with Brett Cronan taking on TMO duties.
This marks Gardner's first Grand Final appointment since the inception of Super Rugby Pacific. In 2018 he became the first Australian since 1996 to officiate a Super Rugby Final when he took charge of the decider between the Crusaders and the Lions.
Since making his Super Rugby debut in 2012, Gardner has built an impressive resume, including:
Test debut: Papua New Guinea v Vanuatu, 2011
Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023 Semi-Final: Argentina v New Zealand
Men’s Six Nations 2025 decider: Ireland v France
First Australian referee to officiate 50 Test matches
2018 World Rugby Referee of the Year
Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said Gardner’s appointment is deserved reward for his consistent high performance across the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.
“Angus has been an outstanding performer in Super Rugby Pacific this year and we are delighted to see him taking the whistle for the Grand Final,” he said.
“Super Rugby Pacific in 2025 has delivered one of the most exciting seasons to date. It is the second highest scoring season on record, with noticeable reductions in stoppage times around penalties, scrums, line-outs and general play.
“These improvements haven’t happened by accident. Our match officials have worked hard to apply the laws of the game with clarity and consistency, while also enabling the game to flow.
“We thank all our match officials for their role in delivering the rugby that defined the 2025 season and look forward to seeing Angus and the team take charge on Saturday night.”
2025 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC GRAND FINAL
Saturday
Crusaders (1) v Chiefs (2), 5.05pm AEST/7.05pm NZST, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
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