Kiwi heavyweights go head-to-head in Super opener
NEWS: The Super Rugby Pacific draw for 2025 has revealed an action packed schedule, headlined by fierce rivalries and a new Finals format that will ignite the battle for ladder positions.
The season will consist of 77 round-robin matches across an extended 16-round regular season - all culminating in a six-team Finals Series.
Fans can start preparing for what promises to be the most exciting Super Rugby Pacific season yet.
The season will kick-off on Friday, Feburary 14 when Kiwi heavyweights - the Crusaders and Hurricanes will lock horns in Christchurch before the Waratahs take on the Highlanders in Sydney.
The opening-round action continues on Saturday, Feburary 15 when the Fijian Drua hosts the Brumbies in Suva.
Eden Park will be hosting a Super Rugby Final rematch between the Blues and Chiefs while the Western Force will take on Moana Pasifika at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.
Culture Round will make a return in Round Three as the Super Rugby Pacific comes together to celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions in the sport.
In Round Five, the next generation of players, pundits and supporters will take centre stage as Kids Round brings the vibes.
The Crusaders will host the Blues on Good Friday to kick-off Round 10, before a spectacular Easter Saturday quartet of matches across New Zealand, Fiji and Australia.
Round 11 will be dedicated to ANZAC Day with the Chiefs to host the Western Force and the Reds coming up against the Blues in Brisbane on Friday, April 25.
In 2025 each of the 11 teams will play 14 regular season matches, consisting of seven home games and seven away games, and be allocated two byes.
“We are delighted to unveil the draw for 2025 so members and fans can begin circling dates in their diaries and making plans for the season ahead,” Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said.
“From Suva to Sydney, Canberra to Christchurch, and even a blockbuster in Tonga, our competition will again deliver its brand of fast, physical and thrilling rugby, starring some of our game’s greatest athletes.
“Traditional rivalries will be reignited and new challengers emerge as the reigning champion Blues launch their first title defence in more than two decades.”
2025 Super Rugby Pacific Finals Series format
Finals week one - Qualifying Finals
First seed v sixth seed
Second seed v fifth seed
Third seed v fourth seed
Finals week two - Semifinals
First seed v fourth seed
Second seed v third seed
Finals week three - Grand Final
First seed v second seed
2025 Super Rugby Pacific Fixtures
Round One
Friday, February 14: Crusaders v Hurricanes
Friday, February 14: Waratahs v Highlanders
Saturday, February 15: Fijian Drua v Brumbies
Saturday, February 15: Blues v Chiefs
Saturday, February 15: Force v Moana Pasifika
Bye: Reds
Round Two
Friday, February 21: Chiefs v Crusaders
Friday, February 21: Reds v Moana Pasifika
Saturday, February 22: Hurricanes v Fijian Drua
Saturday, February 22: Highlanders v Blues
Saturday, February 22: Brumbies v Force
Bye: Waratahs
Round Three - Culture Round
Friday, February 28: Moana Pasifika v Highlanders
Friday, February 28: Waratahs v Fijian Drua
Saturday, March 1: Chiefs v Brumbies
Saturday, March 1: Hurricanes v Blues
Saturday, March 1: Force v Reds
Bye: Crusaders
Round Four
Friday, March 7: Blues v Brumbies
Saturday, March 8: Fijian Drua v Chiefs
Saturday, March 8: Moana Pasifika v Hurricanes
Saturday, March 8: Waratahs v Force
Saturday, March 8: Crusaders v Reds
Bye: Highlanders
Round Five - Kids Round
Friday, March 14: Highlanders v Hurricanes
Friday, March 14: Brumbies v Fijian Drua
Saturday, March 15: Crusaders v Force
Saturday, March 15: Chiefs v Blues
Saturday, March 15: Reds v Waratahs
Bye: Moana Pasifika
Round Six
Friday, March 21: Moana Pasifika v Chiefs
Saturday, March 22: Highlanders v Reds
Saturday, March 22: Blues v Crusaders
Saturday, March 22: Waratahs v Brumbies
Sunday, March 23: Force v Fijian Drua
Bye: Hurricanes
Round Seven
Friday, March 28: Hurricanes v Waratahs
Friday, March 28: Brumbies v Highlanders
Saturday, March 29: Crusaders v Moana Pasifika
Saturday, March 29: Reds v Force
Bye: Blues, Chiefs, Fijian Drua
Round Eight
Friday, April 4: Chiefs v Reds
Saturday, April 5: Moana Pasifika v Waratahs
Saturday, April 5: Fijian Drua v Crusaders
Saturday, April 5: Blues v Hurricanes
Saturday, April 5: Force v Highlanders
Bye: Brumbies
Round Nine
Friday, April 11: Hurricanes v Crusaders
Friday, April 11: Waratahs v Chiefs
Saturday, April 12: Blues v Moana Pasifika
Saturday, April 12: Highlanders v Fijian Drua
Saturday, April 12: Reds v Brumbies
Bye: Force
Round 10
Friday, April 18: Crusaders v Blues
Saturday, April 19: Moana Pasifika v Brumbies
Saturday, April 19: Fijian Drua v Waratahs
Saturday, April 19: Chiefs v Highlanders
Saturday, April 19: Force v Hurricanes
Bye: Reds
Round 11 - ANZAC Round
Friday, April 25: Chiefs v Force
Friday, April 25: Reds v Blues
Saturday, April 26: Moana Pasifika v Fijian Drua
Saturday, April 26: Highlanders v Crusaders
Saturday, April 26: Brumbies v Hurricanes
Bye: Waratahs
Round 12
Friday, May 2: Blues v Force
Saturday, May 3: Fijian Drua v Reds
Saturday, May 3: Hurricanes v Chiefs
Saturday, May 3: Brumbies v Waratahs
Sunday: May 4: Highlanders v Moana Pasifika
Bye: Crusaders
Round 13
Friday, May 9: Fijian Drua v Blues
Friday, May 9: Waratahs v Reds
Saturday, May 10: Crusaders v Chiefs
Saturday, May 10: Force v Brumbies
Bye: Moana Pasifika, Highlanders, Hurricanes
Round 14
Friday, May 16: Hurricanes v Highlanders
Friday, May 16: Waratahs v Crusaders
Saturday, May 17: Fijian Drua v Force
Saturday, May 17: Moana Pasifika v Blues
Saturday, May 17: Brumbies v Reds
Bye: Chiefs
Round 15
Friday, May 23: Crusaders v Highlanders
Friday, May 23: Reds v Hurricanes
Saturday, May 24: Chiefs v Moana Pasifika
Saturday, May 24: Force v Waratahs
Bye: Blues, Brumbies, Fijian Drua
Round 16
Friday, May 30: Highlanders v Chiefs
Friday, May 30: Brumbies v Crusaders
Saturday, May 31: Blues v Waratahs
Saturday, May 31: Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
Saturday, May 31: Reds v Fijian Drua
Bye: Force