Brandwave

NRL vs Super Rugby Pacific:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, NRL had more branded searches than Super Rugby Pacific among sports leagues in New Zealand. NRL had about 2.2 million branded searches, while Super Rugby Pacific had 12,400. NRL made up 59.8% of all sports league searches we track, and Super Rugby Pacific accounted for 0.34%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sports leagues, NRL and Super Rugby Pacific each appeared in three of the five answers. Super Rugby Pacific was mentioned before NRL in every answer that named either.

Among sports leagues in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

NRL, about 178 searches for every 1 for Super Rugby Pacific

NRL 2.2M searchesSuper Rugby Pacific 12.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

NRL in 3 of 5Super Rugby Pacific in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Super Rugby Pacific, named ahead of NRL in 3 of 3 answers

Super Rugby Pacific first in 3NRL never first

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Top sports leagues in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, NRL and Super Rugby Pacific were each mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Super Rugby Pacific was listed before NRL in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Super Rugby Pacific1st
  2. NRL2nd
  3. NFL3rd
  4. Premier League4th
  5. A-League5th
  6. NBA6th
  7. Super Smash7th
  8. AFL–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • NRL3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • A-League3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Super Rugby Pacific3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Premier League2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • NFL2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • NBA2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Super Smash2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • AFL0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about sports leagues

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Is NRL or Super Rugby Pacific more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for NRL and Super Rugby Pacific by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight sports leagues we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

NRL and Super Rugby Pacific among sports leagues in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for NRL, Super Rugby Pacific. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNRLPremier LeagueNFLA-LeagueAFLNBASuper Rugby PacificSuper Smash
Oct 202514.8%23.6%17.3%14.2%0.52%29.2%0.34%0.03%
Nov 20253.6%23.1%15.5%14.5%0.27%42.8%0.25%0.05%
Dec 20251.8%28.9%14.7%18.8%0.13%34.1%0.19%1.3%
Jan 20262.1%25.2%16.7%17.3%0.15%32.7%0.59%5.2%
Feb 20269.3%26.3%3%16.3%0.27%26.6%18.2%0.06%
Mar 202629.2%17.9%0.52%10.1%1.5%22.6%18.1%0.01%
Apr 202633%15.2%0.78%8.8%1.7%24%16.5%<0.01%
May 202629.7%16.8%0.24%8.4%1.5%28.8%14.5%<0.01%
Jun 202647.8%1.1%0.48%0.66%2%32.4%15.6%<0.01%
Jul 202684.7%2.9%0.71%1.6%4.1%5.1%0.92%<0.01%
Aug 202676.4%11%2.1%5.5%2.9%1.8%0.33%<0.01%
Sep 202659.8%15.2%11.3%6.9%4.7%1.8%0.34%0.01%

How has the NRL and Super Rugby Pacific comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Super Rugby Pacific took it in February 2026, NRL took it in March 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NRL’s share of searches among sports leagues in New Zealand moved from 14.8% to 59.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 371K to 2.2M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Super Rugby Pacific’s share of searches among sports leagues in New Zealand held steady at 0.34%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.4K to 12.4K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand sports leagues in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, NRL lost share of searches among sports leagues in New Zealand, from 76.4% to 59.8%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Super Rugby Pacific in New Zealand rose 47.5% over 12 measured months, from 8.4K to 12.4K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

19 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using NRL’s and Super Rugby Pacific’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

NRL

17 branded search terms

  • dolphin nrl
  • nrl
  • nrl draw
  • nrl finals
  • nrl fixtures
  • nrl gf
  • nrl gf tickets
  • nrl ladder
  • nrl matches
  • nrl matches tonight
  • nrl results
  • nrl scores
  • nrl standings
  • nrl teams list
  • nrl tickets
  • nrl tonight
  • nrl w

Super Rugby Pacific

2 branded search terms

  • super rugby
  • super rugby pacific

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among sports leagues

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