Rugby is in for a massive year, with a plethora of big events and talking points set to dominate the year.
Introducing 'The Debate' - a regular segment where the writers at Rugby.com.au break down the big issues of the game and give their opinions on the topics that matter.
Catch every game of the Super Rugby Pacific season LIVE, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport.
To start 2025, we've looked into the future and come up with ten bold predictions for the upcoming season.
This is one of the hardest tour schedules in recent memories for the Lions.
Predicting at least one of Argentina, Reds and/or AU/NZ to knock off the combined side before the first Test.
The emergence of Wright as one of the best fullbacks in the world continues in 2025 as the speedster lights up World Rugby in 2025.
There’s plenty of competition in the ranks but Wright has all the tools to have a special season.
Ireland caused the Kiwis havoc in Canada to produce an upset in WXV 2.
It’s not out of the question if they do it again in Brighton and if so, the French will be desperate to enact revenge for a semi-final defeat in 2022 to knock the defending champions out.
Super Rugby’s competitiveness has gone up another level in 2025.
James O’Connor is a solid signing (more later on him from Lachie) but with less spots this year, the powerhouse’s struggles could continue.
The Chiefs, Hurricanes and Blues remain strong and have plenty of competition across the Tasman and into Fiji.
It seems inevitable the Kiwis make the change and after a mixed campaign in 2025, Scott Robertson pulls the Mo’unga lever for the Spring Tour.
Calls of Super Rugby being devalued will ring out but the majority of their stars still decide to stay in NZ for 2026 and beyond.
On the same wavelength as the Crusaders prediction, the Aussie teams will be big improvers in 2025 after the axing of the Rebels, setting up the biggest domestic game since Super Rugby AU.
The Waratahs and Western Force will be big improvers but it will be the Reds and Brumbies that are expected to lead the way,
It’s crazy that Scotland are fourth favourites behind France, Ireland and England.
They are in great form and will use the Six Nations comp to ensure they have the majority of Lions selections alongside Ireland
They don’t have the Sevens players but the Western Force will take the next step in 2025.
Will it be enough to take down the Waratahs? I don’t think so, who I’m tipping continue their dominance with the Grand Final pencilled in for North Sydney Oval.
The wraps the Wallabies have on MDL is clear given his inclusion in January’s camp and I predict the powerful prop will parlay a call-up for the Rugby Championship.
It’ll come off a breakout year with the Reds, who I predict deep in Super Rugby Pacific thanks to a bolstered squad in 2025.
Speaking of young guns, the flanker finished the year in superb form, helping Sydney Uni to the title and was best on ground for Australia A.
The teenage sensation will thrive in a Waratahs pack stacked with Wallaroos and she’ll emerge as the bolter for the World Cup.
Winning a Lions Tour match is cause for raucous celebration - just ask the 2013 Brumbies - but history will always remember the Test series ledger.
Northern Hemisphere pundits will scoff but something special is brewing in this Wallabies under Joe Schmidt and it feels like Australia has the firepower to ensure fans head to Game Three in Sydney with the series 1-1.
Tom Wright’s an excellent pick for the JEM after his stellar 2024 but there’s a young bloke whose ceiling is even higher and should have his named pre-engraved - Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
With a full Super Rugby Pacific season under his belt, I’m tipping Suaalii to explode in 2025 with one of the all-time Wallaby seasons, including tries against the Lions, All Blacks, and Springboks.
All eyes are on the Wallaroos’ Pool of Death but the WXV2 champions are primed for an all-time RWC campaign with the addition of some sevens firepower.
Expect Maddi Levi, Teagan Levi, Bella Nasser and Bienne Terita to feature heavily as Australia prove their doubters wrong by qualifying from Pool A and surging all the way to a maiden RWC semi final appearance before departing.
If the Crusaders are missing out again, it’s because our Aussies are pinching their spot with three teams in the top six.
While there’ll be plenty of pressure from the Kiwi and Pacific sides, I’m tipping the Brumbies and Reds to feature with the winner of May 25’s clash between the Force and Tahs deciding our third side in finals.
I’ve high hopes of seeing Japanese-based All Blacks and Wallabies like Richie Mounga, Quade Cooper and Shannon Frizell put their hands up for selection in the AU-NZ invitational XV but if there’s one man who must be included, it’s James O’Connor.
Thrust into the playmaking role during the 2013 Lions series, O’Connor’s Wallabies career and Kiwi heritage makes him a perfect fit to lead the AU-NZ side in Adelaide off the back of his debut Crusaders season.
I reckon Nath’s on the money picking an all-Aussie semi final and I think it’ll see the Brumbies finally bust their decider drought.
The Ponies are perennial bridesmaids since Super Rugby went Pacific but 2025 is the year they punch their ticket to the big dance - they’ve got the talent and shouldn’t be satisfied with anything less than a grand final.
Ireland reigns and Scotland rises but France are my sleeping giant for this year’s Six Nations and should not be underestimated.
Despite facing three away games against Italy, England and Ireland this year, the return of mercurial flyhalf Romain Ntamack is a massive boost for Les Bleus who’ll enjoy a home opener against Wales to spark their campaign to life - don’t be surprised if their Round 5 clash with Scotland in Paris serves as a decider.
I’ll go a step further than Nath when looking at the Force’s Super W prospects - they’re more than a chance at the title this year and NSW fans should be wary.
The Test-laden Tahs are rightly favourites after an unbeaten 2024 and will finish the regular season on top but each of the Force, Reds and Brumbies look far stronger this year and the Drua aren’t to be underestimated either - is a semi final upset brewing?
De Lutiis has a Test match future and he’ll get his chance against the Lions - just not in Wallaby gold.
It would take an unbelievable debut Super Rugby season for this young Reds tighthead to force his way past Tupou, Alaalatoa and Nonggorr on the national pecking order but I expect him to front up on July 2 for a Lions tour match to remember, potentially in the starting role.
In a year that will see new Wallaroo and Sevens heroes emerge, there’s one player who’s destined to don both jerseys.
Waiaria Ellis, 17, will make her World Series debut AND be included in Jo Yapp’s Rugby World Cup squad. Heard it here first.
