Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific has officially launched for 2026, with the highly anticipated introduction of variable player pricing to reshape how managers build and manage their teams this season.
After fans flocked to the inaugural season of Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific last year, the introduction of variable player pricing is expected to attract even more players to the game, with 83% of existing Fantasy players in favour of the addition.
Variable player pricing delivers an additional layer of strategy, levelling up the challenge for seasoned competitors, while retaining the fundamental gameplay that is accessible for Fantasy newcomers.
Player prices will fluctuate round-by-round based on on-field performance. Strong performances in Fantasy terms can drive a player’s value up, while quieter weeks may see prices fall.
While the $100 million budget is unchanged, Fantasy managers will notice that pricing has been adjusted to make team selection more difficult than in 2025.
Starting prices for 2026 are underpinned by Fantasy scoring data from the 2025 season across players and positions. The following players currently sit at the top of the market:
- Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) – $12.0 million
- Billy Proctor (Hurricanes) – $11.1 million
- Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders) – $11.0 million
- Carlo Tizzano (Western Force) – $9.8 million
- Sevu Reece (Crusaders) – $9.3 million
Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said he is excited to see more fans join the Fantasy experience alongside their regular Super Rugby Pacific viewing.
“We saw incredible engagement in Fantasy in 2025, with over 70,000 people playing the game around the world, and more than 4.5 million transfers throughout the season.
“It was pleasing to bring Fantasy to Super Rugby Pacific so successfully, and the changes to the gameplay in 2026 are a signal of the competition’s intention to develop and grow the product every year.
"We heard from fans that Fantasy drove them to watch more Super Rugby Pacific, both in person and on broadcast. We value fan feedback, and the team carefully considered which changes to introduce for 2026 to deliver the biggest impact for Fantasy players at all levels of the game.
“I look forward to seeing how fans will adapt to these changes, and which players will emerge as Fantasy superstars by the end of the season.”
Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific 2026 is live now, with full game guidelines and player pricing available at playfantasyrugby.com.
