Inaugural Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final locked in for April

April will see fans treated to two elevated women’s rugby showdowns, with the Super Rugby Aupiki final promoted to a primetime TV slot and the inaugural Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final to be played just five days later.

The news comes as Super Rugby Aupiki is just days away from kicking off in Hamilton with a clash between the Chiefs Manawa and Matatu.

The upcoming Aupiki season is the fourth of the competition’s history and is set to be only more intense as players vie for selection in the Black Ferns’ Rugby World Cup squad.

The Kiwis’ Australian counterparts will be equally focused on the global tournament that kicks off in 178 days. The usual suspects of Super W will also be competing for selection with the country’s global SVNS stars while looking to claim victory in the inaugural Champions Final.

The Queensland Reds landed reigning World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year Maddison Levi as the prize recruit, with the superstar one of nine Wallaroos Sevens players to commit to chasing a World Cup selection.

The announcement of the elevated fixtures was celebrated by both New Zealand Rugby and Sky Sport.

“Sky Super Rugby Aupiki promises to deliver another competitive season in 2025, with the high level of fast-paced, physical rugby that fans know and love,” said Hannah Porter, NZR Head of Women’s High Performance.

“The addition of The Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final is an exciting opportunity to see the best teams from New Zealand and Australia face off in a historic trans-Tasman showdown. It’s a step forward in further aligning these two competitions, and we look forward to building on this in 2026 to bring even more top-tier action to the rugby community.”

Head of Sport Production for Sky, Gary Burchett, added: “In an exciting year for women’s rugby with the Rugby World Cup fast approaching, we’re really pleased to be working with NZR to bring women’s rugby to more fans around New Zealand.

“We’ll broadcast all matches live on Sky, and one match per week free to air on Sky Open. Plus, we are pleased to have brought the two finals into a prime-time broadcast time – both the Sky Super Rugby Aupiki final, and the first-ever Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final.

“We’re also unveiling an exciting new re-brand for Sky Sport which will be debuted in the opening match of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki.”