Grand final rematch to open season as 2024 Super Rugby Pacific draw revealed

Reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders will begin their title defence next season against a familiar foe when they take on the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato on February 23.

In a rematch of last year’s grand final, the champion Crusaders will travel north to take on their New Zealand rivals in Hamilton. It doesn’t get much better than this.

The Kiwi rivals met twice in the regular season last year, and the Chiefs won them both. But when push came to shove, the Crusaders put on a show when it counted.

Led by inspirational skipper Scott Barrett and world-class playmaker Richie Mo’unga, the Crusaders overcame injuries and some uncharacteristically poor form to book their place in the decider.

The Crusaders won a thriller in Hamilton 25-20, as they secured their seventh Super Rugby title in as many years under coach Robertson.

But that’s all in the past now. A new season beckons and a champion will be crowned.

While the season starts with a mouth-watering rematch of last year’s decider, there are plenty of derbies to get excited about.

Across the ditch, the Reds will host arch-rivals Waratahs at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in the opening round. There’s no better rivalry in Australian sport than Queensland versus New South Wales.

The competition will then return to Melbourne for Super Rugby at AAMI Park a week later. Fans will see three trans-Tasman derbies and an unmissable clash between the Moana Drua and Moana Pasifika.

“Super Rugby Pacific continues to set the bar as the most entertaining professional club competition in the world and it’s exciting to launch the draw for 2024,” Super Rugby Pacific Tournament Direct Matt Barlow said.

“The 84-match regular season showcases the fastest and most free-flowing rugby on the planet with world-class talent on show across the squads.

“As we enter the third year of Super Rugby Pacific it’s exciting to see how far the competition has come, how fans have engaged, how law variations have improved the flow of the game, and how richly the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika have enhanced the tournament.

“The announcement of the match schedule and venues for the 2024 edition of the Super Rugby Pacific tournament will allow fans to plan their attendance and get set to follow their favourite teams and players.

“We will once again see matches played in Australia, Fiji and New Zealand, whilst we continue to work with our teams in potentially confirming matches in other counties throughout the Pacific region.

“Super Rugby Pacific 2024 promises to be the most competitive and most engaging competition ever seen and I can’t wait for kick off.”

After 15 rounds, the top eight teams on the ladder will progress to the knockout stages of the competition.