Super Rugby Pacific reveals 2027 fixtures as one scheduling move stands out

Super Rugby Pacific has released their full fixture list for 2027, with the new-look ten-team competition battling it out over an expanded 17 rounds.

The 80-game regular season will feature more Sunday afternoon contests, while one blockbuster fixture will take place on Saturday, April 24, the day before the Wallabies host the All Blacks in a historic Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup clash.

Scheduling more Super Rugby Pacific games on Sunday has been a long-standing talking point among fans and pundits for several years, with the family-friendly time slot offering a better occasion for supporters.

The competition will start on Friday, February 12, with the Crusaders hosting the Queensland Reds at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.

The second game of the 2027 competition will be on Friday night at GIO Stadium in Canberra, between the Brumbies and the Waratahs.

Brad Mooar’s Fijian Drua will take on the Highlanders in Fiji on Saturday, 13 Feb, before the defending Super Rugby Pacific champions, the Hurricanes, will take on the Jason Holland-coached Blues in Auckland.

The final contest of round one is in Perth, where the Western Force welcome Jono Gibbes’ Chiefs to town.

Each team announced a marquee fixture of their choice on Monday, headlined by the pre-Anzac Day clash between the Queensland Reds and the Blues in Brisbane.

Michael Cheika’s NSW Waratahs will host the Crusaders in an exciting Sunday afternoon contest at Allianz Stadium in Round nine. The ACT Brumbies will also take a contest to Corroboree Group Oval Manuka for the first time in 30 years.

Stephen Larkham’s side will host the Western Force in round two there, before taking on the Queensland Reds in Manuka during round nine.

The Fijian Drua, who rarely have a Friday night kickoff at home, will host Clark Laidlaw’s Hurricanes in Suva during round twelve.

Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said the competition continues to grow, and they are excited about the changes to the draw, including more Sunday afternoon fixtures.

“We’re delighted to deliver a 2027 draw that gives fans more to look forward to than ever before – Sunday footy, an epic Easter weekend, Super Round back in Christchurch and a history-making Anzac weekend in Brisbane,” Mesley explained.

“Every team begins the season with a clear ambition to win the title. But the stakes will be even higher next year, with the opening half of the season shaping up as a shootout for Test jerseys ahead of the inaugural Anzac Bledisloe and the Rugby World Cup coming sharply into view beyond it.

“Throw in all the traditional and emerging rivalries, and a new Finals Series where every game is sudden death, and there will be more at stake in every Super Rugby Pacific fixture, from the opening whistle through to the Grand Final.

“Over the last three seasons our competition has experienced growth across all key metrics, and we’re confident that we’ve delivered a fan-focused draw for 2027 that will continue to build on that positive momentum.”

Super Rugby Pacific also announced there’s a change to the finals format for 2027.

“The top six teams at the end of the 2027 regular season will contest a revamped three-week Finals Series, with the top two progressing directly to the Semi-Finals and teams ranked third and fourth hosting sudden-death Elimination Finals.”

*All times AEDT/AEST

Friday February 12: Crusaders v Queensland Reds, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)

Friday February 12: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:35 pm)

Saturday February 13: Fijian Drua v Highlanders, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)

Saturday February 13: Blues v Hurricanes, Eden Park, Auckland (5:05 pm)

Saturday February 13: Western Force v Chiefs, HBF Park, Perth (7:35 pm)

Friday February 19: Crusaders v Hurricanes, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)

Friday February 19: Western Force v ACT Brumbies, HBF Park, Perth (8:00 pm)

Saturday February 20: Highlanders v Blues, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (5:05 pm)

Saturday February 20: NSW Waratahs v Fijian Drua, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:35 pm)

Sunday 21 February: Queensland Reds v Chiefs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (4:05 pm)

Friday February 26: Hurricanes v Western Force, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (5:05 pm)

Saturday February 27: Fijian Drua v Queensland Reds, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)

Saturday February 27: Chiefs v NSW Waratahs, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (5:05 pm)

Saturday February 27: ACT Brumbies v Highlanders, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:35 pm)

Sunday 28 February: Blues v Crusaders, Eden Park, Auckland (2:00 pm)

Friday March 5: Highlanders v Western Force, TBC (5:35 pm)

Friday March 5: NSW Waratahs v Hurricanes, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:45 pm)

Saturday March 6: Blues v Queensland Reds, Eden Park, Auckland (2:35 pm)

Saturday March 6: Crusaders v Chiefs, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:05 pm)

Saturday March 6: ACT Brumbies v Fijian Drua, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:35 pm)

Friday March 12: Crusaders v Highlanders, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)

Friday March 12: Western Force v Queensland Reds, HBF Park, Perth (8:00 pm)

Saturday March 13: Hurricanes v Fijian Drua, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (2:35 pm)

Saturday March 13: Chiefs v Blues, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (5:05 pm)

Saturday March 13: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:35 pm)

Friday March 19: Hurricanes v Crusaders, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (5:35 pm)

Friday March 19: ACT Brumbies v Western Force, Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka, Canberra (7:35 pm)

Saturday March 20: Fijian Drua v Blues, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)

Saturday March 20: Highlanders v Chiefs, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (5:05 pm)

Saturday March 20: Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:35 pm)

Friday March 26: Crusaders v Blues, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)

Saturday March 27: Highlanders v ACT Brumbies, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (5:05 pm)

Saturday March 27: Western Force v NSW Waratahs, HBF Park, Perth (7:35 pm)

Sunday March 28: Chiefs v Hurricanes, Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth (2:00 pm)

Sunday March 28: Queensland Reds v Fijian Drua, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (4:10 pm)

*Note – Daylight savings concludes on Sunday in Australia and NZ

Friday April 2: Crusaders v ACT Brumbies, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)

Saturday April 3: Chiefs v Western Force, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (3:05 pm)

Saturday April 3: Blues v NSW Waratahs, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)

Sunday April 4: Highlanders v Fijian Drua, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (12:00 pm)

Sunday April 4: Hurricanes v Queensland Reds, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (2:30 pm)

Friday April 9: Blues v Chiefs, Eden Park, Auckland (5:35 pm)

Saturday April 10: Fijian Drua v Western Force, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)

Saturday April 10: Hurricanes v Highlanders, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (5:05 pm)

Saturday April 10: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds, Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka, Canberra (7:35 pm)

Sunday April 11: NSW Waratahs v Crusaders, Allianz Stadium Sydney (2:00 pm)

Friday April 16: Chiefs v Fijian Drua, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (5:35 pm)

Friday April 16: ACT Brumbies v Hurricanes, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:35 pm)

Saturday April 17: Highlanders v NSW Waratahs, TBC (5:05 pm)

Saturday April 17: Western Force v Crusaders, HBF Park, Perth (7:35 pm)

BYES: Blues, Queensland Reds

Saturday April 24: Queensland Reds v Blues, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:35 pm)

BYES: ACT Brumbies, Chiefs, Crusaders, Fijian Drua, Highlanders, Hurricanes, NSW Waratahs, Western Force

Friday April 30: Fijian Drua v Hurricanes, TBC, Fiji (5:35 pm)

Saturday May 1: Chiefs v Crusaders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (2:35 pm)

Saturday May 1: Blues v ACT Brumbies, Eden Park, Auckland (5:05 pm)

Saturday May 1: Queensland Reds v Highlanders, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:35 pm)

Sunday May 2: NSW Waratahs v Western Force, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (TBC)

Friday May 7: Blues v Fijian Drua, Eden Park, Auckland (5:35 pm)

Friday May 7: ACT Brumbies v Crusaders, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:45 pm)

Saturday May 8: Hurricanes v Chiefs, TBC (5:05 pm)

Saturday May 8: NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:35 pm)

Sunday May 9: Western Force v Highlanders, HBF Park, Perth (4:05 pm)

Friday May 14: Chiefs v Queensland Reds, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (5:35 pm)

Saturday May 15: Fijian Drua v ACT Brumbies, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)

Saturday May 15: Crusaders v NSW Waratahs, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:05 pm)

Saturday May 15: Western Force v Blues, HBF Park, Perth (7:35 pm)

Sunday May 16: Highlanders v Hurricanes, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (2:00 pm)

Friday May 21: Fijian Drua v Crusaders, TBC, Fiji (5:35 pm)

Friday May 21: Queensland Reds v Western Force, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:45 pm)

Saturday May 22: Chiefs v Highlanders, FMG Stadium Hamilton, Waikato (2:35 pm)

Saturday May 22: Hurricanes v ACT Brumbies, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (5:05 pm)

Saturday May 22: NSW Waratahs v Blues, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:35 pm)

Friday May 28: Crusaders v Western Force, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)

Friday May 28: ACT Brumbies v Chiefs, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:45 pm)

Saturday May 29: Fijian Drua v NSW Waratahs, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)

Saturday May 29: Blues v Highlanders, Eden Park, Auckland (5:05 pm)

Saturday May 29: Queensland Reds v Hurricanes, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:35 pm)

Friday June 4: Hurricanes v Blues, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (5:35 pm)

Friday June 4: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbes, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:45 pm)

Friday June 4: Western Force v Fijian Drua, HBF Park, Perth (9:55 pm)

Saturday June 5: Highlanders v Crusaders, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (5:05 pm)

Saturday June 5: NSW Waratahs v Chiefs, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:35 pm)