The Waratahs and Highlanders face off in Round 1 of Super Rugby Pacific, with both sides eager to bounce back from last season's disappointment.

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The Waratahs, who failed to reach the knockout rounds in 2024, are eager to turn the page with a refreshed squad. One of the most anticipated stories of the season is the debut of Joseph Sua'ali'i. 

The 21-year-old former rugby league sensation is ready to make his mark for the Waratahs after a highly publicized switch to rugby union, adding star power and immense excitement to the squad. 

Sua'ali'i’s debut is just the spark that the Waratahs need after a tough season, as they look to return to the top of Super Rugby.

On the other hand, the Highlanders have their eyes set on making a deeper run than last year’s quarterfinal exit. A hard-fought loss to the Brumbies in the final eight still stings, but a mix of youthful talent and experienced campaigners should bring optimism. 

Here's what to know as the Waratahs and Highlanders face off on Feb. 14:

How To Watch Waratahs Vs. Highlanders Rugby

The 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season will be broadcast on FloRugby and the FloSports App in the United States.

Waratahs Vs. Highlanders Rugby Kickoff Time

The match kicks off at 3:35 a.m. ET on Feb. 14 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia.

Waratahs Rugby Lineup

1. Angus Bell
2. Dave Porecki
3. Taniela Tupou
4. Hugh Sinclair
5. Miles Amatosero
6. Rob Leota
7. Charlie Gamble
8. Langi Gleeson
9. Jake Gordon
10. Tane Edmed
11. Max Jorgensen
12. Joey Walton
13. Lalakai Foketi
14. Andrew Kellaway
15. Joseph Sua'ali'i

Substitutes: 16. Mahe Vailanu, 17. Tom Lambert, 18. Siosifa Amone, 19. Ben Grant, 20. Jamie Adamson, 21. Jack Grant, 22. Jack Bowen, 23. Darby Lancaster

Highlanders Rugby Lineup

1. Ethan de Groot
2. Soane Vikena
3. Saula Ma'u
4. Fabian Holland
5. Mitchell Dunshea
6. Lui Naeata
7. Sean Withy
8. Hugh Renton
9. Nathan Hastie
10. Taine Robinson
11. Caleb Tangitau
12. Timoci Tavatavanawai
13. Tanielu Tele'a
14. Michael Manson
15. Sam Gilbert

Substitutes: 16. Henry Bell, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Sefo Kautai, 19. Nikora Broughton, 20. Veveni Lasaqa, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Cameron Millar, 23. Finn Hurley

Super Rugby Pacific 2025 Fixtures: Round 1

Friday, Feb. 14

• 1:05 a.m. ET: Crusaders vs. Hurricanes
• 3:35 a.m. ET: Waratahs vs. Highlanders
• 10:35 p.m. ET: Fijian Drua vs. Brumbies

Saturday, Feb. 15

• 1:05 a.m. ET: Blues vs. Chiefs
• 3:35 a.m. ET: Force vs. Moana Pasifika

Waratahs FloRugby Ranking

Waratahs are ranked No. 23 in FloRugby's Top 25 Clubs Power Rankings.

Highlanders FloRugby Ranking

Highlanders not ranked FloRugby's Top 25 Clubs Power Rankings.

FloRugby's 25 Best Rugby Clubs On Feb. 12

1. Stade Toulousain | Top 14
2. Leinster Rugby | URC
3. Union Bordeaux-Begles | Top 14
4. RC Toulon | Top 14
5. Blues | Super Rugby
6. Chiefs | Super Rugby
7. Glasgow Warriors | URC
8. Bath Rugby | Gallagher Premiership
9. ASM Clermont | Top 14
10. Vodacom Bulls | URC
11. Brumbies | Super Rugby
12. Hollywoodbets Sharks | URC
13. Northampton Saints | Gallagher Premiership
14. Munster Rugby | URC
15. La Rochelle | Top 14
16. Leicester Tigers | Gallagher Premiership
17. Saracens | Gallagher Premiership
18. Reds | Super Rugby
19. Harlequins | Gallagher Premiership
20. Hurricanes | Super Rugby
21. Bayonne | Top 14
22. Sale Sharks | Gallagher Premiership
23. Waratahs | Super Rugby
24. Ospreys | URC
25. Castres Olympique | Top 14

Super Rugby Pacific 2025 Fixtures

Round 1

Friday, Feb. 14

• 1:05 a.m. ET: Crusaders vs. Hurricanes
• 3:35 a.m. ET: Waratahs vs. Highlanders
• 10:35 p.m. ET: Fijian Drua vs. Brumbies

Saturday, Feb. 15

• 1:05 a.m. ET: Blues vs. Chiefs
• 3:35 a.m. ET: Force vs. Moana Pasifika

Round 2

Friday, Feb. 21

• 1:05 a.m. ET: Chiefs vs. Crusaders
• 3:35 a.m. ET: Reds vs. Moana Pasifika
• 10:35 p.m. ET: Hurricanes vs. Fijian Drua

Saturday, Feb. 22

• 1:05 a.m. ET: Highlanders vs. Blues
• 3:35 a.m. ET: Brumbies vs. Force

Round 3

Friday, Feb. 28

• 1:05 a.m. ET: Moana Pasifika vs. Highlanders
• 3:35 a.m. ET: Waratahs vs. Fijian Drua
• 10:35 p.m. ET: Chiefs vs. Brumbies

Saturday, March 1

• 1:05 a.m. ET: Hurricanes vs. Blues
• 3:35 a.m. ET: Force vs. Reds

Round 4

Friday, March 7

• 1:05 a.m. ET: Blues vs. Brumbies
• 10:35 p.m. ET: Fijian Drua vs. Chiefs

Saturday, March 8

• 1:05 a.m. ET: Moana Pasifika vs. Hurricanes
• 3:35 a.m. ET: Waratahs vs. Force
• 9:35 p.m. ET: Crusaders vs. Reds

Round 5

Friday, March 14

• 2:05 a.m. ET: Highlanders vs. Hurricanes
• 4:35 a.m. ET: Brumbies vs. Fijian Drua
• 11:35 p.m. ET: Crusaders vs. Force

Saturday, March 15

• 2:05 a.m. ET: Chiefs vs. Blues
• 4:35 a.m. ET: Reds vs. Waratahs

Round 6

Friday, March 21

• 2:05 a.m. ET: Moana Pasifika vs. Chiefs
• 11:35 p.m. ET: Highlanders vs. Reds

Saturday, March 22

• 2:05 a.m. ET: Blues vs. Crusaders
• 4:35 a.m. ET: Waratahs vs. Brumbies

Sunday, March 23

• 2:05 a.m. ET: Force vs. Fijian Drua

Round 7

Friday, March 28

• 2:05 a.m. ET: Hurricanes vs. Waratahs
• 4:35 a.m. ET: Brumbies vs. Highlanders

Saturday, March 29

• 2:05 a.m. ET: Crusaders vs. Moana Pasifika
• 4:35 a.m. ET: Reds vs. Force

Round 8

Friday, April 4

• 2:05 a.m. ET: Chiefs vs. Reds
• 9:05 p.m. ET: Moana Pasifika vs. Waratahs
• 11:35 p.m. ET: Fijian Drua vs. Crusaders

Saturday, April 5

• 2:05 a.m. ET: Blues vs. Hurricanes
• 4:35 a.m. ET: Force vs. Highlanders

Round 9

Friday, April 11

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Hurricanes vs. Crusaders
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Waratahs vs. Chiefs
• 12:35 a.m. ET: Blues vs. Moana Pasifika

Saturday, April 12

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Highlanders vs. Fijian Drua
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Reds vs. Brumbies

Round 10

Friday, April 18

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Crusaders vs. Blues
• 9:05 p.m. ET: Moana Pasifika vs. Brumbies
• 11:35 p.m. ET: Fijian Drua vs. Waratahs

Saturday, April 19

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Chiefs vs. Highlanders
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Force vs. Hurricanes

Round 11

Friday, April 25

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Chiefs vs. Force
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Reds vs. Blues
• 12:35 a.m. ET: Moana Pasifika vs. Fijian Drua

Saturday, April 26

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Highlanders vs. Crusaders
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Brumbies vs. Hurricanes

Round 12

Friday, May 2

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Blues vs. Force
• 10:05 p.m. ET: Fijian Drua vs. Reds

Saturday, May 3

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Hurricanes vs. Chiefs
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Brumbies vs. Waratahs
• 11:35 p.m. ET: Highlanders vs. Moana Pasifika

Round 13

Friday, May 9

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Fijian Drua vs. Blues
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Waratahs vs. Reds

Saturday, May 10

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Crusaders vs. Chiefs
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Force vs. Brumbies

Round 14

Friday, May 16

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Hurricanes vs. Highlanders
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Waratahs vs. Crusaders
• 11:35 p.m. ET: Fijian Drua vs. Force

Saturday, May 17

• 3:05 a.m ET: Moana Pasifika vs. Blues
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Brumbies vs. Reds

Round 15

Friday, May 23

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Crusaders vs. Highlanders
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Reds vs. Hurricanes

Saturday, May 24

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Chiefs vs. Moana Pasifika
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Force vs. Waratahs

Round 16

Friday, May 30

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Highlanders vs. Chiefs
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Brumbies vs. Crusaders
• 12:35 a.m. ET: Blues vs. Waratahs

Saturday, May 31

• 3:05 a.m. ET: Hurricanes vs. Moana Pasifika
• 5:35 a.m. ET: Reds vs. Fijian Drua

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