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Inaugural Super Rugby Pacific draw released for 2022 season
Super Rugby Pacific will kick off at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland where competition newcomers Moana Pasifika will fittingly host the inaugural match of a new era against the Brumbies, on Friday, 18 February 2022.
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The birth of Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua, whose first match will be away to the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday 19 February, are part of the Super Rugby Pacific draw announced today by joint venture partners New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and Rugby Australia (RA).
The regular season features Super Round Melbourne which will see all 12 teams gather at AAMI Park in Melbourne in round two for three straight days of double-headers (25-27 February).
Each team will play a total of 14 matches during the regular season, 11 round-robin fixtures plus the introduction of three additional rivalry matches which will see each team play a home and away series against three other teams.
All 12 clubs will have their bye in either round seven, round eight or round nine, providing a fair chance for all teams to recharge as they launch their final push for a place in the grand final, including an eight-team play-off series which will kick-off in the first week of June.
Super Rugby Pacific will also embrace diversity with Women in Rugby to be celebrated in round three, a Culture Round in round six, ANZAC Day in round 10, and a Heritage Round in round 12.
NZR general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said the draw was easy to understand and a level playing field for the teams involved.
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“The draw reflects the new look and feel of the competition whether it’s the historic opening match at Mt Smart Stadium, the Super Round, the traditional rivalries that have built up over more than 20 years, or the first time Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua go head-to-head on ANZAC weekend,” he said.
“We have two new clubs who are building competitive squads right now, and 10 other clubs who are excited by a fresh challenge.
“I think the inaugural season of Super Rugby Pacific will be a true celebration for rugby in the Pacific and will showcase the immense playing and coaching talent in the region. We can’t wait to get started next February.”
New Zealand’s five Super Rugby clubs, the Blues, Hurricanes, Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders, as well as Moana Pasifika, will confirm their 38-man squads next Monday.
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“It’s fantastic to be able to confirm our draw for the 2022 competition, and from the outset, I’d like to thank our teams, broadcasters, New Zealand Rugby and SANZAAR for their co-operation and collaboration in getting to this point,” Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos said.
There are going to have to be some selection change-ups this weekend when a reeling All Blacks side takes on France. #AllBlacks #IREvNZL #FRAvNZLhttps://t.co/3B9sEmTMdj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 15, 2021
“Super Rugby Pacific is fresh and exciting as we look to provide fans a new game-day experience every time they go to a match.
“We will also host ANZAC, Heritage, Cultural, and Women in Rugby Rounds, as we acknowledge, recognise and celebrate the communities who make our game so great, and I’m excited to see this play out during match days.”
As well as a first look at the two competition newcomers, the blockbuster first round will also deliver a classic southern derby between the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa champion Crusaders and the Highlanders at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
The Hurricanes and Chiefs will start the season on the road against the Waratahs and Reds respectively in Sydney and Brisbane, while the final match of round one is an all-Aussie affair between the Force and the Rebels.
2022 SUPER RUGBY PACIFC DRAW
All times local
ROUND ONE
Friday 18 February: Moana Pasifika v Brumbies, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (19:05)
Friday 18 February: Waratahs v Hurricanes, TBC (19:45)
Saturday 19 February: Blues v Fijian Drua, Eden Park, Auckland (16:35)
Saturday 19 February: Crusaders v Highlanders, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)
Saturday 19 February: Reds v Chiefs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (18:45)
Saturday 19 February: Force v Rebels, HBF Park, Perth (19:00)
ROUND TWO (SUPER ROUND)
Friday 25 February: Hurricanes v Chiefs, AAMI Park, Melbourne (18:00)
Friday 25 February: Moana Pasifika v Waratahs, AAMI Park, Melbourne (20:30)
Saturday 26 February: Crusaders v Reds, AAMI Park, Melbourne (17:05)
Saturday 26 February: Fijian Drua v Force, AAMI Park, Melbourne(19:45)
Sunday 27 February: Highlanders v Blues, AAMI Park, Melbourne (13:30)
Sunday 27 February: Rebels v Brumbies, AAMI Park, Melbourne (16:00)
ROUND THREE (WOMEN IN RUGBY ROUND)
Friday 4 March: Chiefs v Moana Pasifika, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (19:05)
Friday 4 March: Force v Reds, HBF Park, Perth (19:00)
Saturday 5 March: Blues v Rebels TBC, (14:35)
Saturday 5 March: Fijian Drua v Highlanders, TBC, (14:50)
Saturday 5 March: Hurricanes v Crusaders, Sky Stadium, Wellington, (19:05)
Saturday 5 March: Brumbies v Waratahs, GIO Stadium, Canberra (19:45)
ROUND 4
Friday 11 March: Chiefs v Force, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (19:05)
Friday 11 March: Rebels v Fijian Drua, AAMI Park, Melbourne (19:45)
Saturday 12 March: Moana Pasifika v Crusaders, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (16:35)
Saturday 12 March: Hurricanes v Highlanders, Sky Stadium, Wellington (19:05)
Saturday 12 March: Reds v Brumbies, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (18:45)
Sunday 13 March: Waratahs v Blues, TBC (14:00)
ROUND 5
Friday 18 March: Highlanders v Force, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19:05)
Friday 18 March: Reds v Moana Pasifika, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (18:45)
Saturday 19 March: Brumbies v Hurricanes, GIO Stadium, Canberra (14:35)
Saturday 19 March: Fijian Drua v Chiefs, TBC, TBC
Saturday 19 March: Waratahs v Rebels, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (19:45)
Sunday 20 March: Crusaders v Blues, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, (15:35)
ROUND 6 (CULTURE ROUND)
Friday 25 March: Moana Pasifika v Force, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (19:05)
Friday 25 March: Rebels v Reds, AAMI Park, Melbourne (19:45)
Saturday 26 March: Fijian Drua v Waratahs, TBC, TBC
TBC: Brumbies v Chiefs, GIO Stadium, Canberra, TBC
Saturday 26 March: Highlanders v Crusaders, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19:05)
Sunday 27 March: Blues v Hurricanes, Eden Park, Auckland (15:35)
ROUND 7 (Daylight savings concludes Australia & New Zealand)
Friday 1 April: Chiefs v Crusaders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (19:05)
Friday 1 April: Force v Brumbies, HBF Park, Perth (18:00)
Saturday 2 April: Blues v Moana Pasifika, Eden Park, Auckland (19:05)
Saturday 2 April: Reds v Waratahs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (18:45)
Bye: Highlanders, Hurricanes, Rebels, Fijian Drua
ROUND 8
Friday 8 April: Hurricanes v Fijian Drua, Sky Stadium, Wellington (19:05)
Friday 8 April: Rebels v Moana Pasifika, AAMI Park, Melbourne (19:45)
Saturday 9 April: Chiefs v Blues, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (19:05)
Saturday 9 April: Reds v Highlanders, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (19:45)
Bye: Crusaders, Brumbies, Force, Waratahs
ROUND 9
Friday 15 April: Crusaders v Rebels, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)
Friday 15 April: Fijian Drua v Brumbies, TBC (19:45)
Saturday 16 April: Highlanders v Hurricanes, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19:05)
Saturday 16 April: Waratahs v Force, TBC, 19:45
Bye: Moana Pasifika, Blues, Chiefs, Reds
ROUND 10 (ANZAC ROUND)
Friday 22 April: Highlanders v Brumbies, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19:05)
Friday 22 April: Waratahs v Crusaders, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (19:45)
Friday 22 April: Force v Blues, HBF Park, Perth (20:00)
Saturday 23 April: Hurricanes v Reds, Sky Stadium, Wellington (16:35)
Saturday 23 April: Moana Pasifika v Fijian Drua, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (19:05)
Saturday 23 April: Rebels v Chiefs, AAMI Park, Melbourne (19:45)
ROUND 11
Friday 29 April: Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika, Sky Stadium, Wellington (19:05)
Friday 29 April: Brumbies v Reds, GIO Stadium, Canberra (19:45)
Friday 29 April: Force v Crusaders, HBF Park, Perth (20:00)
Saturday 30 April: Chiefs v Waratahs, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (16:35)
Saturday 30 April: Blues v Highlanders, Eden Park, Auckland (19:05)
Saturday 30 April: Fijian Drua v Rebels, TBC (19:45)
ROUND 12 (HERITAGE ROUND)
Friday 6 May: Crusaders v Hurricanes, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)
Friday 6 May: Reds v Rebels, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (19:45)
Saturday 7 May: Highlanders v Moana Pasifika, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (16:35)
Saturday 7 May: Blues v Chiefs, Eden Park, Auckland (19:05)
Saturday 7 May: Waratahs v Fijian Drua, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (19:45)
Sunday 8 May: Brumbies v Force, GIO Stadium, Canberra (14:00)
ROUND 13
Friday 13 May: Crusaders v Fijian Drua, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)
Saturday 14 May: Chiefs v Brumbies, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (16:35)
Saturday 14 May: Moana Pasifika v Blues, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (19:05)
Saturday 14 May: Waratahs v Reds, TBC (19:45)
Saturday 14 May: Force v Hurricanes, HBF Park, Perth (20:00)
Sunday 15 May: Rebels v Highlanders, AAMI Park, Melbourne (14:00)
ROUND 14
Friday 20 May: Blues v Reds, Eden Park, Auckland (19:05)
Friday 20 May: Fijian Drua v Moana Pasifika, TBC (19:45)
Saturday 21 May: Hurricanes v Rebels, Sky Stadium, Wellington (16:35)
Saturday 21 May: Chiefs v Highlanders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (19:05)
Saturday 21 May: Brumbies v Crusaders, GIO Stadium, Canberra (19:45)
Saturday 21 May: Force v Waratahs, HBF Park, Perth, 20:00
ROUND 15
Friday 27 May: Highlanders v Waratahs, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19:05)
Friday 27 May: Brumbies v Blues, GIO Stadium, Canberra (19:45)
Saturday 28 May: Moana Pasifika v Hurricanes, TBC (16:35)
Saturday 28 May: Crusaders v Chiefs, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)
Saturday 28 May: Reds v Fijian Drua, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (19:45)
Sunday 29 May: Rebels v Force, AAMI Park, Melbourne (14:00)
– New Zealand Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
The best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
2 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
3 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
114 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
2 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
3 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
3 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
114 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
3 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
4 Go to comments