Champions host opening game of 2023 Super Rugby Pacific

Crusaders captain Scott Barrett raises the trophy with the Crusaders team to celebrate winning the final.
Blues v Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific Final rugby union match at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday 18 June 2022.
© Copyright photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

The defending Super Rugby Pacific champion Crusaders will kick the 2023 competition off against the Chiefs during an opening round that focuses on traditional rivalries.

The opening round of the 12 team competition starting on 24 February will also see Pasifika pride on the line as Moana Pasifika host the Fijian Drua at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland in what will be the start of historic campaigns for last year’s two competition newcomers.

The other fixtures of the opening weekend will see the Highlanders host the Blues in Dunedin, the Hurricanes travel to Brisbane to play the Reds, the Force host the Rebels in Perth and the Waratahs and Brumbies clash in Sydney.

Throughout the season the Drua will play six home matches in Fiji, while Moana Pasifika will take a home match to Samoa.

Round 2 is the previously announced Super Round at AAMI Park in Melbourne where all 12 teams will gather for a high-stakes festival of rugby.

All 12 teams play a total of 14 matches during the 15-week regular season, 11 round-robin fixtures plus three additional rivalry matches which will see each team play a home and away series against three other teams.

The top eight teams reach the finals.

New Zealand Rugby’s Chris Lendrum believed the upcoming season would be one of Super Rugby’s “most competitive”

“We saw massive potential on the field in 2022, but also some huge challenges off it, so to have a fully integrated and uninterrupted draw in 2023 is great news for the players and the fans.”

Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos said being able to travel across the Tasman and around the Pacific is massive for the competition.

Rivalry matches: Each team plays three teams twice (one at home match, one away match per rivalry)

Blues: Rivalry opponents are the Hurricanes, Highlanders and Crusaders

Chiefs: Rivalry opponents are the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Highlanders

Crusaders: Rivalry opponents are the Blues, Chiefs and Moana Pasifika

Highlanders: Rivalry opponents are the Blues, Force and Chiefs

Hurricanes: Blues, Chiefs and Moana Pasifika

Moana Pasifika: Hurricanes, Highlanders and Fijian Drua

Fijian Drua: Moana Pasifika, Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs

Western Force: Highlanders, Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels

Queensland Reds: Fijian Drua, Western Force and ACT Brumbies

Melbourne Rebels: Western Force, NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies

NSW Waratahs: Fijian Drua, Melbourne Rebels and ACT Brumbies

ACT Brumbies: Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels and NSW Waratahs