Round 3 of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season delivered a weekend of high-octane drama, monsoon-like conditions in the Pacific, and the long-awaited awakening of the competition’s most successful franchise. From the "Fortress" in Lautoka to a rain-slicked Hamilton, here is how the action unfolded.

Moana Pasifika 19 – 35 Western Force

Friday, Feb 27 | Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland The Western Force finally "broke the shackles" to claim their first win of the season in a clinical display across the Tasman. While Moana Pasifika showed flashes of their signature flair, the Force’s set-piece dominance proved the difference. The visitors appeared destined for a crucial bonus point until a late lapse in concentration allowed Moana lock Allan Craig to crash over in the final minute. The try served as a consolation for the hosts but stripped the Force of an extra point on the ladder, leaving them with a hard-earned four-point victory.

Queensland Reds 31 – 14 Highlanders

Friday, Feb 27 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Les Kiss’s "Razzle Dazzle" Reds officially got their 2026 campaign on track with a comprehensive bonus-point win over the Highlanders. Queensland jumped out to an early 12-point lead through the reliable hands of Fraser McReight and Matt Faessler. The Highlanders struggled to find an answer for the Reds' tempo, and when "The Junkyard Dog" Tim Ryan crossed late in the first half, the result felt inevitable. Second-half scores from Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Vaiuta Latu iced a dominant performance that left the men from Dunedin searching for answers.

Fijian Drua 25 – 20 Hurricanes

Saturday, Feb 28 | Churchill Park, Lautoka The "Fortress" is back. In torrential conditions that turned Churchill Park into a tactical mud-bath, the Fijian Drua secured a famous first win of the season. The Hurricanes led 17–13 at the break thanks to tries from Fehi Fineanganofo and Billy Proctor, but the second half belonged to the hosts. A brilliant intercept try by Tuidraki Samusamuvodre ignited the home crowd before replacement prop Peni Ravai produced a magical offload to send Etonia Waqa over for the match-winner. The Drua’s defense held firm in a frantic final ten minutes to sink the 'Canes.

Chiefs 33 – 43 Crusaders

Saturday, Feb 28 | FMG Stadium, Hamilton In a pulsating rematch of the 2025 final, the Crusaders reminded the competition why they are never to be counted out. The Chiefs started at a lightning pace, racing to a 14–0 lead in just ten minutes, but the Crusaders clawed back through a masterclass from Will Jordan and a career-defining hat-trick by No. 8 Christian Lio-Willie. The visitors scored 34 unanswered points to turn the game on its head. Despite a late Chiefs flurry, the Crusaders held on for their first win of 2026, leaving the Hamilton faithful in stunned silence.

ACT Brumbies 30 – 27 Blues

Saturday, Feb 28 | GIO Stadium, Canberra The round concluded with an absolute heart-stopper in the capital. The Brumbies preserved their unbeaten status in the most dramatic fashion possible. Trailing by nine with ten minutes to go, the Brumbies capitalized on a yellow card to Blues fly-half Stephen Perofeta. After Luke Reimer pulled the hosts within striking distance, the clock ticked past 80 minutes with the Brumbies hammering the line. In the final play of the game, No. 8 Charlie Cale scooped the ball from the base of a ruck to plant it over the white line, sealing a 30–27 victory and keeping the ACT side atop the table.