Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific crowns first-ever champion

The first season of Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific has officially concluded with inaugural champion Callum Brown from Melbourne holding off a late charge from an Irish challenger to secure the title and the $10 000 prize.

Launched in the week prior to the season, Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific welcomed tens of thousands of players, inspired new connections among supporters and delivered a dramatic finale with the title being decided in the final match of the regular season.

“The first season of Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific has been an outstanding success,” Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said.

“The game has been a catalyst for increased engagement and enthusiasm from fans across the Pacific region and around the world.

“We’ve been taking note of fan feedback throughout the year and work has already begun on making it bigger and better in 2026.”

Highlights from 2025 Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific:

• 70 270 total players

• 12 062 leagues created

• 4.5 million player transfers throughout the season

• Most selected player: Ardie Savea, Moana Pasifika

• Most captained player: Damian McKenzie, Chiefs

Heading into the final fixture of the regular season between the Queensland Reds and Fijian Drua on Saturday, the margin between Fantasy leader “Cal7” and “Colmtalksrugby” in second place had narrowed to 35 points.

Both their selected teams contained Drua forward Etonia Waqa, effectively cancelling each other out, leaving the title hopes of “Colmtalksrugby” resting solely on the shoulders of Reds backrower Harry Wilson.

Despite the Reds putting on a masterclass against the Drua in a 52-7 victory, most of the point-scoring was done out wide and Wilson’s return was kept to a respectable 21 Fantasy points.

With a total point score of 10 069 for the season, “Cal7” held on to claim the victory by just 14 points.

"It was pretty surreal to be honest," Brown said after the result was officially confirmed on Sunday morning.

"Unfortunately I was actually sick last night so I had to celebrate by myself. But embarrassingly I did run around my apartment fist pumping.

"I'll definitely be having a few drinks with friends soon and it might even have to be my shout."

Despite falling agonisingly short of the major prize, “Colmtalksrugby”, also known as Colm Flaherty from Galway in Ireland, said his main goal from the outset had simply been to beat his friends.

“It feels pretty good getting the bragging rights, especially as it can put to bed any doubt about my knowledge,” he said.

“The moves that separated me from the rest were picking players early in their purple patches like Etonia Waqa, Carlo Tizzano and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens."