Pacific stars dominate Super Rugby awards as Quinn Tupaea edges Tavatavanawai for title

Quinn Tupaea and Timoci Tavatavanawai could not be separated on points after the votes were counted for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year award.

Both midfielders finished on 43 votes and highlighted the impact Pacific players continue to have at the highest level of the competition.

In the end, it was Tupaea who claimed the top honour after winning more three-point votes under Super Rugby Pacific's voting system.

The Chiefs star was officially crowned Player of the Year on Thursday night ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific final.

Tupaea has been one of the standout performers of the season, helping drive the Chiefs into a fourth final in six years.

The powerful midfielder finished the regular season among the competition leaders in carries, run metres, tries and turnovers, while also setting the standard defensively among backline players.

“I was actually very surprised,” Tupaea said after receiving the award.

The 27-year-old admitted he was “stoked” to be recognised after another strong campaign in Chiefs colours.

While Tupaea took home the trophy, the performance of Highlanders midfielder Tavatavanawai ensured Pacific players dominated the race for the competition's highest individual honour.

Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea has been named the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year after another outstanding season that helped guide his side into the competition final. Photo/Photosport/John Davidson

Tavatavanawai matched Tupaea's vote tally and pushed the Chiefs midfielder all the way before losing out on the tie-break count.

The award is decided through Super Rugby Pacific's 3-2-1 voting system, with coaches and captains awarding votes to the best players from the opposition after each match.

A media panel also contributes an additional set of votes.

Blues loose forward Anton Segner finished third on 41 votes while NSW Waratahs wing Max Jorgensen and Western Force fullback Ben Donaldson were next on 39 votes.

Jack Mesley, Super Rugby Pacific chief executive, said Tupaea was a worthy winner.

“Quinn Tupaea is a most deserving winner of the Player of the Year Award, having been one of the competition’s most consistent star performers and playing a leading role in the success the Chiefs have enjoyed in 2026,” Mesley said.

Highlanders star Timoci Tavatavanawai matched Quinn Tupaea's 43-vote tally in the Player of the Year standings, underlining the impact of the powerful Fijian midfielder throughout the 2026 season. Photo/Photosport/Jeremy Ward

The competition also crowned its first-ever Rookie of the Year with NSW Waratahs outside back Sid Harvey taking out the award after an impressive debut season.

Harvey scored six tries and finished the season with 98 points, the fourth-highest tally in the competition.

“I would also like to congratulate Sid Harvey on becoming the inaugural Rookie of the Year. In his breakthrough season with the Waratahs we saw the skill and confidence to suggest he has a very bright future ahead of him,” Mesley said.

Meanwhile, if you were expecting the women's Super Rugby Aupiki awards on Thursday, there was none.

Because New Zealand Rugby shifted the entire tournament window this year, moving the season from its traditional March/April slot to a mid-year mid-season alignment (June through August), the women's competition is currently only one round into the season.

Round 1 just kicked off last Saturday 13 June with the Blues taking down the Hurricanes Poua and Matatū defeating Chiefs Manawa.

The Aupiki grand final isn't scheduled until 25 July, followed by the Trans-Tasman Champions Final on 1 August so the official season awards ceremony won't take place until closer to the end of the tournament window.

The Chiefs will face the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby Pacific 2026 Grand Final on Saturday, 20 June at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Kickoff is at 7.05pm (NZT).

2026 Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year:

• Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs) - 43 votes*

• Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders) - 43 votes

• Anton Segner (Blues) - 41 votes

*Won on tie-break after receiving more three-point votes.