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FIFA World Cup 2026 posterCEO Jack Mesley: Te Kaha Stadium driving Super Rugby revival
Sport Nation • June 3rd, 2026 2:38 pm
Crusaders v Waratahs at Te Kaha Stadium | Photo: Photosport
Christchurch’s Te Kaha Stadium has provided a vital lifeline for the Super Rugby in New Zealand, helping draw fans and showcasing the sport at its best.
Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said the opening of the stadium came at a pivotal but perfect time, initially hosting the first New Zealand Super Round in April and since attracting sell-out crowds for Crusaders games.
“It's been really, really great. It is such a milestone for the city, for the Crusaders, and for the comp. I think Super Round was just a great event and then from there, the Crusaders have just gone from strength to strength." He told Sport Nation’s Scotty & Izzy.
“Also, I think for us weather-wise, it's just helped promote great code at this time of year, where normally we see it start to get a bit impacted by weather.”
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With the constant narrative that alternative sports are stealing Super Rugby’s thunder, Mesley urged, “we are still the biggest show in town and we're growing and we're now going to post a set of results at the end of the season that'll be three consecutive years of growth.
“There is a narrative issue here and there's also a lot of room for growth. We know we can be better but things are moving in the right direction which I'm really pleased with and we've got a great committee group of clubs that are working and really pushing hard into it.”
He referenced Blues CEO Karl Budge as a great example of a leader committed to regrowing the game.
Blues v Hurricanes | Photo: Photosport
“Karl is really moving and shaking and being brave in some decisions that he's making and we're really pleased with how that's coming on in Auckland.”
Mesley also said the five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises, excluding Moana Pasifika, have had a strong year, with all posting double digit crowd growth.
“The clubs are working really hard and it's great to see them getting some of the results.
“We say that knowing that we've still got a long way to go, but two years of consecutive growth, over 10% growth for all five clubs is bloody great news and testament to the work that the guys are doing on the event experience, that's for sure.”
And as for the future of Moana Pasifika, Mesley is unsure if there is truth to the rumour of Winston Peters becoming a lifeline for the team.
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“I don't know specifically about what Winston's up to, but what I do know is that NZR have received some submissions from interested parties and are working through that now to see if there is a way that MP (Moana Pasifika) can be saved.
“I know everyone's very interested in timelines and things like that but you know what I would just say is that It's a big decision, it's a discussion point, it needs the right amount of time for that due diligence to be done."
But in the background, he said, "we are working through what '27 looks like with MP and without MP, and we hope something can be done for that.”
Listen to the full interview below:
