Inaugural Super Rugby Pacific draw released for 2022 season

Super Rugby Pacific will kick off at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland where competition newcomers Moana Pasifika will fittingly host the inaugural match of a new era against the Brumbies, on Friday, 18 February 2022.

The birth of Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua, whose first match will be away to the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday 19 February, are part of the Super Rugby Pacific draw announced today by joint venture partners New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and Rugby Australia (RA).

The regular season features Super Round Melbourne which will see all 12 teams gather at AAMI Park in Melbourne in round two for three straight days of double-headers (25-27 February).

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

All 12 clubs will have their bye in either round seven, round eight or round nine, providing a fair chance for all teams to recharge as they launch their final push for a place in the grand final, including an eight-team play-off series which will kick-off in the first week of June.

Super Rugby Pacific will also embrace diversity with Women in Rugby to be celebrated in round three, a Culture Round in round six, ANZAC Day in round 10, and a Heritage Round in round 12.

NZR general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said the draw was easy to understand and a level playing field for the teams involved.

“The draw reflects the new look and feel of the competition whether it’s the historic opening match at Mt Smart Stadium, the Super Round, the traditional rivalries that have built up over more than 20 years, or the first time Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua go head-to-head on ANZAC weekend," he said.

“We have two new clubs who are building competitive squads right now, and 10 other clubs who are excited by a fresh challenge.

"I think the inaugural season of Super Rugby Pacific will be a true celebration for rugby in the Pacific and will showcase the immense playing and coaching talent in the region. We can’t wait to get started next February.”

New Zealand’s five Super Rugby clubs, the Blues, Hurricanes, Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders, as well as Moana Pasifika, will confirm their 38-man squads next Monday.

"It's fantastic to be able to confirm our draw for the 2022 competition, and from the outset, I'd like to thank our teams, broadcasters, New Zealand Rugby and SANZAAR for their co-operation and collaboration in getting to this point," Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos said.

"Super Rugby Pacific is fresh and exciting as we look to provide fans a new game-day experience every time they go to a match.

"We will also host ANZAC, Heritage, Cultural, and Women in Rugby Rounds, as we acknowledge, recognise and celebrate the communities who make our game so great, and I'm excited to see this play out during match days.”

As well as a first look at the two competition newcomers, the blockbuster first round will also deliver a classic southern derby between the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa champion Crusaders and the Highlanders at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.

The Hurricanes and Chiefs will start the season on the road against the Waratahs and Reds respectively in Sydney and Brisbane, while the final match of round one is an all-Aussie affair between the Force and the Rebels.

2022 SUPER RUGBY PACIFC DRAW

All times local

ROUND ONE

Friday 18 February: Moana Pasifika v Brumbies, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (19:05)

Friday 18 February: Waratahs v Hurricanes, TBC (19:45)

Saturday 19 February: Blues v Fijian Drua, Eden Park, Auckland (16:35)

Saturday 19 February: Crusaders v Highlanders, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)

Saturday 19 February: Reds v Chiefs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (18:45)

Saturday 19 February: Force v Rebels, HBF Park, Perth (19:00)

ROUND TWO (SUPER ROUND)

Friday 25 February: Hurricanes v Chiefs, AAMI Park, Melbourne (18:00)

Friday 25 February: Moana Pasifika v Waratahs, AAMI Park, Melbourne (20:30)

Saturday 26 February: Crusaders v Reds, AAMI Park, Melbourne (17:05)

Saturday 26 February: Fijian Drua v Force, AAMI Park, Melbourne(19:45)

Sunday 27 February: Highlanders v Blues, AAMI Park, Melbourne (13:30)

Sunday 27 February: Rebels v Brumbies, AAMI Park, Melbourne (16:00)

ROUND THREE (WOMEN IN RUGBY ROUND)

Friday 4 March: Chiefs v Moana Pasifika, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (19:05)

Friday 4 March: Force v Reds, HBF Park, Perth (19:00)

Saturday 5 March: Blues v Rebels TBC, (14:35)

Saturday 5 March: Fijian Drua v Highlanders, TBC, (14:50)

Saturday 5 March: Hurricanes v Crusaders, Sky Stadium, Wellington, (19:05)

Saturday 5 March: Brumbies v Waratahs, GIO Stadium, Canberra (19:45)

ROUND 4

Friday 11 March: Chiefs v Force, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (19:05)

Friday 11 March: Rebels v Fijian Drua, AAMI Park, Melbourne (19:45)

Saturday 12 March: Moana Pasifika v Crusaders, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (16:35)

Saturday 12 March: Hurricanes v Highlanders, Sky Stadium, Wellington (19:05)

Saturday 12 March: Reds v Brumbies, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (18:45)

Sunday 13 March: Waratahs v Blues, TBC (14:00)

ROUND 5

Friday 18 March: Highlanders v Force, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19:05)

Friday 18 March: Reds v Moana Pasifika, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (18:45)

Saturday 19 March: Brumbies v Hurricanes, GIO Stadium, Canberra (14:35)

Saturday 19 March: Fijian Drua v Chiefs, TBC, TBC

Saturday 19 March: Waratahs v Rebels, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (19:45)

Sunday 20 March: Crusaders v Blues, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, (15:35)

ROUND 6 (CULTURE ROUND)

Friday 25 March: Moana Pasifika v Force, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (19:05)

Friday 25 March: Rebels v Reds, AAMI Park, Melbourne (19:45)

Saturday 26 March: Fijian Drua v Waratahs, TBC, TBC

TBC: Brumbies v Chiefs, GIO Stadium, Canberra, TBC

Saturday 26 March: Highlanders v Crusaders, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19:05)

Sunday 27 March: Blues v Hurricanes, Eden Park, Auckland (15:35)

ROUND 7 (Daylight savings concludes Australia & New Zealand)

Friday 1 April: Chiefs v Crusaders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (19:05)

Friday 1 April: Force v Brumbies, HBF Park, Perth (18:00)

Saturday 2 April: Blues v Moana Pasifika, Eden Park, Auckland (19:05)

Saturday 2 April: Reds v Waratahs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (18:45)

Bye: Highlanders, Hurricanes, Rebels, Fijian Drua

ROUND 8

Friday 8 April: Hurricanes v Fijian Drua, Sky Stadium, Wellington (19:05)

Friday 8 April: Rebels v Moana Pasifika, AAMI Park, Melbourne (19:45)

Saturday 9 April: Chiefs v Blues, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (19:05)

Saturday 9 April: Reds v Highlanders, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (19:45)

Bye: Crusaders, Brumbies, Force, Waratahs

ROUND 9

Friday 15 April: Crusaders v Rebels, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)

Friday 15 April: Fijian Drua v Brumbies, TBC (19:45)

Saturday 16 April: Highlanders v Hurricanes, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19:05)

Saturday 16 April: Waratahs v Force, TBC, 19:45

Bye: Moana Pasifika, Blues, Chiefs, Reds

ROUND 10 (ANZAC ROUND)

Friday 22 April: Highlanders v Brumbies, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19:05)

Friday 22 April: Waratahs v Crusaders, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (19:45)

Friday 22 April: Force v Blues, HBF Park, Perth (20:00)

Saturday 23 April: Hurricanes v Reds, Sky Stadium, Wellington (16:35)

Saturday 23 April: Moana Pasifika v Fijian Drua, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (19:05)

Saturday 23 April: Rebels v Chiefs, AAMI Park, Melbourne (19:45)

ROUND 11

Friday 29 April: Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika, Sky Stadium, Wellington (19:05)

Friday 29 April: Brumbies v Reds, GIO Stadium, Canberra (19:45)

Friday 29 April: Force v Crusaders, HBF Park, Perth (20:00)

Saturday 30 April: Chiefs v Waratahs, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (16:35)

Saturday 30 April: Blues v Highlanders, Eden Park, Auckland (19:05)

Saturday 30 April: Fijian Drua v Rebels, TBC (19:45)

ROUND 12 (HERITAGE ROUND)

Friday 6 May: Crusaders v Hurricanes, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)

Friday 6 May: Reds v Rebels, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (19:45)

Saturday 7 May: Highlanders v Moana Pasifika, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (16:35)

Saturday 7 May: Blues v Chiefs, Eden Park, Auckland (19:05)

Saturday 7 May: Waratahs v Fijian Drua, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (19:45)

Sunday 8 May: Brumbies v Force, GIO Stadium, Canberra (14:00)

ROUND 13

Friday 13 May: Crusaders v Fijian Drua, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)

Saturday 14 May: Chiefs v Brumbies, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (16:35)

Saturday 14 May: Moana Pasifika v Blues, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (19:05)

Saturday 14 May: Waratahs v Reds, TBC (19:45)

Saturday 14 May: Force v Hurricanes, HBF Park, Perth (20:00)

Sunday 15 May: Rebels v Highlanders, AAMI Park, Melbourne (14:00)

ROUND 14

Friday 20 May: Blues v Reds, Eden Park, Auckland (19:05)

Friday 20 May: Fijian Drua v Moana Pasifika, TBC (19:45)

Saturday 21 May: Hurricanes v Rebels, Sky Stadium, Wellington (16:35)

Saturday 21 May: Chiefs v Highlanders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (19:05)

Saturday 21 May: Brumbies v Crusaders, GIO Stadium, Canberra (19:45)

Saturday 21 May: Force v Waratahs, HBF Park, Perth, 20:00

ROUND 15

Friday 27 May: Highlanders v Waratahs, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19:05)

Friday 27 May: Brumbies v Blues, GIO Stadium, Canberra (19:45)

Saturday 28 May: Moana Pasifika v Hurricanes, TBC (16:35)

Saturday 28 May: Crusaders v Chiefs, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (19:05)

Saturday 28 May: Reds v Fijian Drua, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (19:45)

Sunday 29 May: Rebels v Force, AAMI Park, Melbourne (14:00)

- New Zealand Rugby