NSW Waratahs defeat Fijian Drua in Super Rugby Pacific round two, Pete Samu plays after birth of child

Wallabies veteran Pete Samu has helped the NSW Waratahs to consecutive wins to start the Super Rugby Pacific season, just hours after the birth of his child.

Samu started at number eight for the Tahs in the 36-13 win over the Fijian Drua in Sydney on Friday.

But the win was a distant second when it came to the most important achievement of his day.

Earlier on Friday, Samu posted a video on his social media of himself in a birthing suite with his wife.

Speaking with broadcaster Stan Sport before Friday's round two clash, the 34-Test veteran confirmed the good news of the birth of their child.

"Shout out to my wife, she just gave birth today," he said.

Samu nearly capped off his excellent Friday with a try, but he knocked on when going for the goal line.

Samu's missed chance proved inconsequential, as the Waratahs overpowered the Drua at the Sydney Football Stadium to start season 2026 with two consecutive wins.

The Tahs were made to work for their win, with the Drua testing the home side in an evenly contested first half.

But the Drua, coming off an energy-sapping loss to Moana Pasifika in round one, faded in the second half as the Waratahs ran in six tries to one.

The Waratahs were the first on the scoreboard, when openside flanker Charlie Gamble dummy-passed from the base of the ruck and darted over from close range in the 10th minute.

The Drua hit back four minutes later to level the scores at seven points. Winger Taniela Rakuro finished off an excellent backline move off an attacking lineout to score in the right corner.

The Drua then had the better of running for the next 20 minutes, but points were at a premium. A penalty goal to Drua flyhalf Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula in the 34th minute gave the Fiji-based side a 10-7 lead.

But it was the Tahs who took a lead into half time when left winger Max Jorgensen produced a stunning sidestep around Rakuro to beat him clean and run 20 metres along the sideline for a 14-10 lead.

Jorgensen and the Tahs believed they had another try on the stroke of half time, but the refereeing team deemed a pass in the build-up had gone forward after video review.

A penalty goal to Armstrong-Ravula for the Drua reduced the deficit to one point in the 45th minute, but the Waratahs then took over.

Debutant reserve hooker Ioane Moananu muscled his way to the try line from close range to score the Waratahs' third try, finishing off an impressive passage of play where the home side started with a scrum 40 metres out, and then bashed their way through the middle of the Drua defence.

A try to Angus Blyth, and second tries for Moananu and Jorgensen capped off a successful night for NSW.

Earlier, the Wellington Hurricanes began round two of Super Rugby Pacific with a comprehensive win over Moana Paskifika, 52-10.

Playing their first match of the season after having the bye in round one, the Hurricanes had too much class for a Moana Paskifika that had eight debutants in its 23-man side.

The Western Force hosts the Auckland Blues in Perth on Saturday, while the ACT Brumbies are in Christchurch to face the Crusaders on Sunday afternoon.

The Queensland Reds have the bye in round two.

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