Super Rugby Women's semi-final moved to be Nations Championship curtain raiser

The Western Force and the NSW Waratahs’ Super Rugby Women’s semi-final will now be a doubleheader with the Wallabies’ Nations Championship clash against Italy.

Originally scheduled to take place at Wanneroo Rugby Club, Western Force’s first-ever Super Rugby Women’s semi-final will now be hosted at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday 18 July.

The fixture will precede the Round 3 Nations Championship clash between Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies and an Italy side smarting from defeat a week ago.

Earlier this season the Force beat the Waratahs 28-21 and became the first Australian team to beat the New South Wales side.

But while the hosts have recent successes on their side, the Waratahs have history. Michael Ruthven’s team have won Super Rugby Women’s six times in the tournament’s history.

It has been a spell of dominance at the top of domestic Australian women’s rugby that has only been broken by the Fijian Drua’s back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.

Jilly Collins, Rugby Australia General Manager, Women’s Rugby, said: “Bringing the Super Rugby Women’s semi-final to HBF Park is a fantastic outcome for everyone involved and will be a fitting occasion for the Western Force’s first-ever home finals fixture.

“This is a special opportunity to showcase the quality of our competition and our talented athletes, while also giving fans the chance to enjoy two elite rugby matches back-to-back.

“We’re looking forward to an outstanding atmosphere at HBF Park as the Force and Waratahs battle for a place in the Grand Final before the Wallabies take on Italy in what promises to be a memorable day for rugby in Perth.”

The other semi-final will take place in Fiji, where the Drua will host the Queensland Reds at Lautoka’s Churchill Park on Saturday.

The Grand Final will take place on Sunday 26 July at a yet to be determined venue. The winners will face off with the Super Rugby Aupiki champions.