Super Rugby Aupiki draw released for inaugural 2022 season
Women’s rugby in New Zealand will open a new chapter on March 5 when the first-ever Super Rugby Aupiki match takes place at Eden Park.
New Zealand Rugby [NZR] announced the draw for the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season on Friday, with the Blues to stage the competition’s maiden fixture against Chiefs Manawa in Auckland on the first Saturday of March.
The match will act as a curtain-raiser to the Super Rugby Pacific clash between the men’s teams of each franchise, which is scheduled to kick-off at Eden Park later that afternoon.
The following day, the Hurricanes will open their Super Rugby Aupiki account against Matat?, a composite South Island side made up of players from the Crusaders and Highlanders regions, at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
Super Rugby Aupiki’s debut season will comprise of three rounds in which all four teams play each other once, with the top two teams to play each other in a one-off final on either March 26 or March 27.
Round three of the competition will be a Super Round, whereby all fixtures – Blues vs Matat? and Chiefs Manawa vs Hurricanes – will be staged at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.
“This year is going to be like nothing we’ve seen before when it comes to the women’s game and Super Rugby Aupiki is a great way to get things underway,” NZR general manager of professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said.
“We’ve seen the four clubs assemble strong, exciting squads and this draw was the last piece of the puzzle before launching the competition in March.
“We’re looking forward to seeing New Zealand get in behind the players and teams and make this first season really set a benchmark for years to come.”
Confirmation of the Super Rugby Aupiki draw comes in the same year that New Zealand will host the women’s edition of the Rugby World Cup between October and November.
All Super Rugby Aupiki matches will be broadcast live in New Zealand on Sky Sport, as well as free-to-air channel Prime.
2022 Super Rugby Aupiki draw
Round One
Saturday 5 March
Blues v Chiefs Manawa, Eden Park, kick off 1:45pm
Sunday 6 March
Matat? v Hurricanes, Orangetheory Stadium, kick off 3:45pm
Round Two
Saturday, 12 March
Hurricanes v Blues, Sky Stadium, kick off 1:45pm
Sunday, 13 March
Chiefs Manawa v Matat?, FMG Stadium, kick off 3:45pm
Round Three – Super Round – FMG Stadium
Saturday, 19 March
Blues v Matat?, kick off 1:45pm
Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes, kick off 4:35pm
FINAL
Saturday, 26 or Sunday, 27 March
Comments on RugbyPass
Steve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
20 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
3 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
3 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
20 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
20 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
20 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
20 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to comments