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Grand final rematch to open season as 2024 Super Rugby Pacific draw revealed
Reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders will begin their title defence next season against a familiar foe when they take on the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato on February 23.
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In a rematch of last year’s grand final, the champion Crusaders will travel north to take on their New Zealand rivals in Hamilton. It doesn’t get much better than this.
The Kiwi rivals met twice in the regular season last year, and the Chiefs won them both. But when push came to shove, the Crusaders put on a show when it counted.
Led by inspirational skipper Scott Barrett and world-class playmaker Richie Mo’unga, the Crusaders overcame injuries and some uncharacteristically poor form to book their place in the decider.
The Crusaders won a thriller in Hamilton 25-20, as they secured their seventh Super Rugby title in as many years under coach Robertson.
But that’s all in the past now. A new season beckons and a champion will be crowned.
While the season starts with a mouth-watering rematch of last year’s decider, there are plenty of derbies to get excited about.
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) August 15, 2023
Across the ditch, the Reds will host arch-rivals Waratahs at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in the opening round. There’s no better rivalry in Australian sport than Queensland versus New South Wales.
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The competition will then return to Melbourne for Super Rugby at AAMI Park a week later. Fans will see three trans-Tasman derbies and an unmissable clash between the Moana Drua and Moana Pasifika.
“Super Rugby Pacific continues to set the bar as the most entertaining professional club competition in the world and it’s exciting to launch the draw for 2024,” Super Rugby Pacific Tournament Direct Matt Barlow said.
“The 84-match regular season showcases the fastest and most free-flowing rugby on the planet with world-class talent on show across the squads.
“As we enter the third year of Super Rugby Pacific it’s exciting to see how far the competition has come, how fans have engaged, how law variations have improved the flow of the game, and how richly the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika have enhanced the tournament.
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“The announcement of the match schedule and venues for the 2024 edition of the Super Rugby Pacific tournament will allow fans to plan their attendance and get set to follow their favourite teams and players.
“We will once again see matches played in Australia, Fiji and New Zealand, whilst we continue to work with our teams in potentially confirming matches in other counties throughout the Pacific region.
“Super Rugby Pacific 2024 promises to be the most competitive and most engaging competition ever seen and I can’t wait for kick off.”
After 15 rounds, the top eight teams on the ladder will progress to the knockout stages of the competition.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
35 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
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