The Hurricanes will return to Napier to host the Western Force during round five of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Set for Friday, March 13, at 7.05pm, the clash is the Hurricanes’ 15th game played in Napier since 1996.
It’s also the second successive season McLean Park will host a Super Rugby Pacific fixture, following the Hurricanes’ 38-34 win over the Fijian Drua in February.
The Force don’t have particularly happy memories of McLean Park - their only match on the ground was a 43-6 mauling during Super Rugby Trans-Tasman four seasons ago.
“We love going up to Hawke’s Bay to play. The Drua game there last year, with the atmosphere and the sellout crowd, was amazing,” Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said.
“We’ve obviously got a huge amount of Hawke’s Bay players within the squad, so this match against the Force is another opportunity for us to go to the region and unite and excite our fans in Napier.
“We’re really looking forward to reconnecting with Hawke’s Bay and the region and playing up there.”
Confirmation that Napier will host the match against the Force rounds out the Hurricanes’ 2026 season schedule.
The venue of the fixture had been listed as ‘TBC’ when the full draw was announced in August.
Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union chief executive Jay Campbell said hosting the Hurricanes again would be a boost for the region.
“It will be a privilege to host the Hurricanes once again in Napier and another fantastic opportunity for the Hawke’s Bay public to see the Hurricanes playing in their own back yard,” Campbell says.
“The whole of Hawke’s Bay, including the business community, will benefit from having the Canes in our province, and I am sure our fans will pack out McLean Park again in March.”
Born in Havelock North and schooled at Hastings Boys’ High School, Hurricanes loose forward Devan Flanders said he was thrilled about the opportunity to return to his home region in a Super Rugby Pacific capacity.
“It means a lot to the Hawke’s Bay community, especially because they are such loyal rugby supporters,” Flanders, a 75-cap veteran for Hawke’s Bay in the NPC, said.
“Our Hawke’s Bay fans always show up with a smile on their faces and bring plenty of energy and passion to our matches at McLean Park.”
Hurricanes matches in Napier
1996 – Hurricanes 32-16 Transvaal
1997 – Hurricanes 19-3 Waratahs
1998 – Hurricanes 17-39 Crusaders
1999 – Hurricanes 13-7 Waratahs
2001 – Hurricanes 35-33 Highlanders
2003 – Hurricanes 34-46 Bulls
2011 – Hurricanes 14-26 Bulls
2014 – Hurricanes 25-20 Bulls
2015 – Hurricanes 56-20 Highlanders
2017 – Hurricanes 56-21 Brumbies
2018 – Hurricanes 38-37 Sharks
2020 – Hurricanes 62-15 Sunwolves
2021 – Hurricanes 43-6 Force
2025 – Hurricanes 38-34 Fijian Drua