Released the day after the final Rugby Championship clash at Eden Park, the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific draw will be unique in the natural evolution to include fixtures in both Fiji and Samoa.
The best way to recognize the importance of the Fijian Drau and Moana Pasifika, was to schedule matches at their own home grounds. And while Moana will still be based out of South Auckland, the Drua will be extremely proud to call the Island their home. Saturday, March 11 will be the first of six games on the Island; balanced between a number of grounds, but predominantly at ANZ Stadium, in Suva.
The 2023 draw will see all 12 teams play a total of 14 matches during the regular season, 11 round-robin fixtures plus three additional rivalry matches which will see each team play a home and away series against three other teams. Family-friendly afternoon kick-offs are a feature of the draw with 24 daytime matches in total with all 91 matches live and exclusive on TV in Australia and New Zealand [elsewhere depending on region], including the eight-team finals series, which kicks off on the second weekend of June.
Super Rugby Pacific is back for 2023 🌊
Discover the full Fixture list here 👉 https://t.co/tTbJ8dOS68#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/k2ifjtTBer
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) September 24, 2022
Round Two is the previously announced Super Round at AAMI Park in Melbourne where all 12 teams will gather for a high-stakes festival of rugby.
The Moana Pasifika clash will bring rugby back to the island nation of Samoa. The Blues played the Queensland Reds in 2017 in Apia as part of the previous Super Rugby competition.
2023 Super Rugby Pacific draw takes games to Fiji and Samoa
SANZAAR has declared this year as ‘fully integrated and uninterrupted’ due to the challenges of last season; when the opening half of the season saw postponed games affect several New Zealand teams, especially the Moana Pasifika franchise.
New Zealand Rugby general manager (Professional Rugby and Performance) Chris Lendrum said, “There is a real feeling that 2023 Super Rugby Pacific is ready for take-off after a successful, but COVID disrupted inaugural season. We saw massive potential on the field in 2022, but also some huge challenges off it, so to have a fully integrated and uninterrupted draw in 2023 is great news for the players and the fans. I think we are going to see one of Super Rugby’s most competitive seasons.”
Six epic encounters to kick off the #SuperRugbyPacific 2023 season 💪
Who have you got in the opening round? 👀 https://t.co/tTbJ8e6tuI pic.twitter.com/JaTuWCMvkh
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) September 25, 2022
Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos said, “Being able to play regularly in front of home fans, and to travel across the Tasman and around the Pacific is massive for the competition, especially for fans, who can support their teams through a full home schedule. Everyone saw what 2023 Super Rugby Pacific had to offer in its first season and all 12 clubs have taken that excitement into the off-season and will be primed for a shot at the title in 2023.”
Last Word on Rugby will look to feature franchise and player profiles ahead of the February 2023 kick-off. See full draw here.
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