Steve Lancaster reveals what Anzac Day Tests mean for Super Rugby Pacific

New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster has explained what Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Tests will mean for Super Rugby Pacific, and how the competition’s draw may look in 2027.

NZR and Rugby Australia announced on Sunday that the three Test matches will all be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in 2027, 2029, and 2031.

April 25’s Test match between the Wallabies and the All Blacks will be played during the Super Rugby Pacific season, likely forcing the league to adjust the format of the sixteen- round competition.

Although “Super Round” is yet to be confirmed for 2027, the festival weekend’s date will be shifted, with the two national teams facing off in Brisbane.

Speaking to Jason Pine on Newstalk ZB’s Weekend Sport, the NZR CEO addressed what the announcement would mean for the competition.

“One of the considerations for us in working with Rugby Australia on this has been that we ensure that the opportunity to prepare for the game is the same for both teams, and so we’ve ensured that by recognising that we’ll play the game on that weekend,” Lancaster told Pine.

“We’ll have a defined period of assembly, but again, we just built this into the program, so players will go in and have their leave period, which is really important, they’ll then come back into super rugby, they’ll come out of it to play in this fixture, and then they’ll return to Super Rugby for the remainder of that competition.”

“Yeah, well, and again, it’s sort of a coincidence of circumstances here, and that the confirmation now that the competition will be a 10 team competition next year, and for the foreseeable future, enables us to have a full by round on aims at weekend, and so that is really helpful in terms of not impacting on Super Rugby teams on that weekend.

“For the week prior, players who are selected for the test won’t be available for the Super Rugby teams, but again, that’s that’s nothing new, right?

“We, we currently manage our players across the season really cognisant of their load, and as you’ll be well aware, All Blacks and other players don’t play every game for a season, either.

“So, this will just be something that the teams will work into their load management and their squad management over the season.”

Lancaster also confirms that if fit, the eligible players in the Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test are available for the Super Rugby Pacific franchises the week following.

In the earlier announcement, Lancaster said having the three Tests in Brisbane was a no-brainer.

“Rugby Australia is an important partner for us, and a strong game in Australia is good for rugby in New Zealand. Brisbane has long been seen as a home away from home with a large New Zealand population living there and we see this as a huge opportunity to work in partnership with Rugby Australia to grow the game in a key market.”