Super Rugby Pacific 2026 Quarter-Final - Hurricanes 66-12 Brumbies - 06/06/2026.

Photo highlights from the Hurricanes v Brumbies quarterfinal which was played in Wellington on wet and wild evening in the capital city after an emphatic victory against the Brumbies.

Coach Clark Laidlaw’s side vanquished some qualifying-final demons, avenging playoff defeats to the same opposition in 2022, 2023 and 2025 with a record 66-12 victory on a wet and wild evening in the capital.

The one-sided encounter extended the Hurricanes’ unbeaten record in Wellington in 2026 and left them just two wins away from a second Super Rugby title.

Replacement winger Ngane Punivai scored a second-half hat-trick was the man of the moment as the contest was effectively over by halftime after clinical first half from the canes. Unfazed by the potentially tricky conditions and the slippery ball, the Hurricanes raced into a 38-7 lead after scoring five first-half tries with Ruben Love, Caleb Delany, Cam Roigard, Warner Dearns and Billy Proctor all scoring tries.

Ruben Love scored the opening try with a quick counterattacking move before Billy Proctor and Callum Harkin sent lock Caleb Delany over shortly after Proctor and Warner Dearns exposed holes in the Brumbies defence to add points to scoreboard before. The Brumbies finally got on the board at 31-0 when Corey Toole dived over shortly after Cam Roigard added a fifth try to banish any hopes of a comeback.

After half-time Hurricanes topped 50 points for the sixth time this season when Punivai collected a loose pass and sprinted 55 metres shortly after Punivai added a second before completing his hat-trick in the 79th after catching a cross-field kick from Love.

The 66-point haul amassed by the Hurricanes’ handed the Brumbies their heaviest-ever defeat along with the worst loss by an Australian team in Super Rugby finals. Another notable stat was Ruben Love scoring 21 points himself in another sublime and commanding all-round performance, landing all nine conversions and one penalty in a perfect night from the tee.

The Chiefs will now take on the Crusaders in Hamilton after a nervy encounter against the Reds.

Result:

Hurricanes 66-12 Brumbies

Photos were taken for ZUMA Press

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