All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell cleared to return for Crusaders’ Super Rugby Pacific semifinal against Chiefs
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
What: Super Rugby Pacific semifinal, Chiefs v Crusaders. Where: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton. When: Friday, 7.05pm; live on Sky Sport 1.
The Crusaders have been given a big boost ‒ literally ‒ for Friday night’s blockbuster Super Rugby Pacific semifinal against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell has been cleared to return from a knee injury for the defending champions, in a hotly-anticipated clash at FMG Stadium Waikato which will mark the latest chapter in the fierce foes’ finals rivalry.
This will be the franchises’ fifth playoff meeting in six seasons, with the red and blacks having triumphed in all those previous four ‒ in Hamilton in the 2023 final, and in Christchurch in the 2021 Aotearoa final, the 2022 semifinal and last year’s decider, where Newell was rather unlucky to be pipped for man-of-the-match by Rivez Reihana.
The 35-test 121kg tighthead has again been a significant weapon for Rob Penney’s outfit in 2026, and there were fears when he walked gingerly from the field in the last-round win over the Hurricanes on May 29 that his Super season may have been done.
But, after missing last Saturday’s 52-31 qualifying final belting of the Blues, the 26-year-old has been cleared to take back the No 3 jersey, in what should be a fascinating match-up with in-form three-test Chiefs loosehead Ollie Norris.
Penney labelled Newell “world-class” and felt his form this year had been “some of his best”, in both core roles and around the field, where he has even thrived in some open space.
“Fletcher’s got the ability to do special things, out of the blue,” Penney noted. “He’s a very explosive man. We know about his set-piece work. Fletcher’s played phenomenally for us, and we’re blessed to have him back this week.
“You need all your top weaponry available at this time of year. We’re obviously missing a few, but with Fletcher back in, the experience he’s had and can provide will be very worthy.”
The plaudits weren’t just coming from Crusader-land, with Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i happy to resume what has often been a bristly recent battle (the Crusaders going 2-0 against the Chiefs in the regular season) with a man he is used to shoving behind in scrums at the top level.
“He’s obviously a good mate of mine in All Blacks camp, and I know that we have a lot of push and shove on the field, but I’ve got nothing but love for Fletcher,” Vaa’i said.
“He’s a quality tight-head, he’s got the ability to play 80 minutes, and that’s no easy feat for a front-rower. So big ups to Fletch that he’s come back, I know that these are the type of games you want to be a part of.”
Newell’s return sees George Bower drop back to the bench to be the tighthead cover (last weekend’s debutant, Gus Brown, dropping out), with Finlay Brewis retaining the starting loosehead role.
The only other change for the Crusaders comes at centre, with Dallas McLeod sidelined by the groin injury that took him out in the first quarter of the qualifying final. That sees Braydon Ennor, a fellow former All Black and fellow end-of-season departee, injected for a first start since Super Round, and winger Macca Springer come onto the bench.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, have two concussion-enforced changes to their starting XV from last Saturday night’s 46-24 qualifying final victory over the Reds, with centre Kyle Brown joining All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi on the sidelines.
Sititi’s sickening knock took him out of the game and placed him on a mandatory 12-day stand-down, and while Brown passed his initial head injury assessment and re-entered the match following the head clash on Josh Flook he was yellow-carded for, he failed subsequent tests.
“He’s also expecting a baby so he’s down home with that, so it sort of unfortunately falls at the right time for him, if there can be such a thing,” Chiefs assistant coach Marty Bourke said of the Manawatū product, who has made a good impression in his first Super season.
Sititi’s absence sees Samipeni Finau promoted to start at No 6, with Simon Parker moving to No 8 and Kaylum Boshier coming into the reserves, while replacing Brown is Lalakai Foketi, who will wear the No 13 jersey for just the second time this season.
Winger Liam Coombes-Fabling, who on Wednesday was announced as leaving at season’s end for a two-year deal with French division two club Oyonnax, is named to replace Daniel Sinkinson in the No 14, after overcoming the calf niggle that kept him out last week.
After a false start against the Reds, where he was a midweek withdrawal, All Blacks winger Leroy Carter has again been named on the bench to return from a hamstring injury suffered in Super Round, while halfback Xavier Roe is back from a fortnight out with his own hamstring problem, replacing Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.
First-five Damian McKenzie will notch his 150th cap for the Chiefs, going level with Sam Cane at second on the all-time list, behind only Liam Messam (183).
Tickets to the game remained available on Wednesday afternoon, with a sell-out of around 22,000 expected, with fine and chilly weather forecast in Fieldays week.
Chiefs: Isaac Hutchinson, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Lalakai Foketi, Quinn Tupaea, Kyren Taumoefolau, Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima, Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson (c), Samipeni Finau, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, Sione Ahio, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Olli Norris. Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Jared Proffit, George Dyer, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaylum Boshier, Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Leroy Carter.
Crusaders: Johnny McNicholl, Chay Fihai, Braydon Ennor, David Havili (c), Sevu Reece, Taha Kemara, Noah Hotham, Christian Lio-Willie, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ethan Blackadder, Jamie Hannah, Antonio Shalfoon, Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor, Finlay Brewis. Reserves: Manumaua Letiu, Jack Sexton, George Bower, Tahlor Cahill, Dom Gardiner, Kyle Preston, Rivez Reihana, Macca Springer.