2025 Super Rugby Pacific season

Last updated
2025 Super Rugby Pacific season
CountriesFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (4 teams)
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji (1 team)
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand (5 teams)
Pacific Islands (1 team)
Tournament format(s) Round-robin and knockout
← 2024 (Previous)(Next) 2026 →

The 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season is the thirtieth season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and a combined team from Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific Island nations.

Contents

The competition was reduced from twelve teams in 2024 to eleven following the axing of Australian team Melbourne Rebels. [1] [2]

Format

The competition format remained the same from the previous season (2024), with an extra regular season round and the finals series being the major changes, [3] alongside the fixture list and afternoon fixture times. [4] Eleven teams play in a round-robin format, with seven matches at home and seven away, and two byes. [3] The fourteen games include teams playing four teams twice, with a focus on "rivalry match-ups", and the six remaining teams once. [3] At the conclusion of the regular season, the top six teams on the season ladder will compete in the qualifying finals. [3] The first-placed team will go head-to-head against the sixth-placed team; the second-placed team will go head-to-head against the fifth-placed team; and the third-placed team against the fourth-placed team. [3] Each winner and the highest-seeded losing team will advance to the semi-finals (1st seed v 4th seed and 2nd seed v 3rd seed). The winners of each semi-final will advance to the Grand Final, the highest-seeded team being the hosts. [3]

The rankings on the competition table are determined by the number of competition points earned during the regular season. Competition points can be gained in the following way: four points are awarded to the winning team, two points to each team for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams can also receive a singular bonus point if they score at least three tries more than the opponent in a match, or lose by seven points or less. [5]

Teams and personnel

Overview

CountryTeamStadia informationCoachCaptain
StadiaCapacityLocation
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Brumbies GIO Stadium 25,011 Bruce, Australian Capital Territory Flag of Australia (converted).svg Stephen Larkham [6] TBD
Reds Suncorp Stadium 52,500 Milton, Queensland Flag of Australia (converted).svg Les Kiss [7] TBD
Waratahs Allianz Stadium 42,500 Moore Park, New South Wales Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dan McKellar [8] TBD
Western Force HBF Park 20,500 Perth, Western Australia Flag of New Zealand.svg Simon Cron [9] TBD
Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji Drua HFC Bank Stadium 10,000 Suva, Central Division Flag of New Zealand.svg Glen Jackson [10] TBD
Churchill Park 10,000 Lautoka, Western Division
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Blues Eden Park 50,000 Kingsland, Auckland Flag of New Zealand.svg Vern Cotter [11] TBD
Chiefs FMG Stadium Waikato 25,800 Hamilton, Waikato Flag of New Zealand.svg Clayton McMillan [12] TBD
Crusaders Apollo Projects Stadium 17,104 Addington, Canterbury Flag of New Zealand.svg Rob Penney [13] [14] TBD
Highlanders Forsyth Barr Stadium 30,748 Dunedin, Otago Flag of New Zealand.svgFlag of Japan.svg Jamie Joseph [15] TBD
Hurricanes Sky Stadium 34,500 Pipitea, Wellington Flag of Scotland.svg Clark Laidlaw TBD
Pacific Islands [lower-alpha 1] Moana Pasifika North Harbour Stadium 14,000 Albany, Auckland Flag of New Zealand.svg Tana Umaga TBD
Teufaiva Sport Stadium 10,000 Nukuʻalofa, Tongatapu

Locations

Location of all teams within Oceania:
2025 Super Rugby Pacific season (Oceania)
Location of Auckland teams:
2025 Super Rugby Pacific season (Auckland)

Regular season

Super Rugby ladder

2025 Super Rugby Pacific standings
PosTeam
PldWDLPFPAPDTFTATBLBPtsQualification
1Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 000000000000Qualification to Finals series
2Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies 000000000000
3Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 000000000000
4Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 000000000000
5Flag of Fiji.svg Drua 000000000000
6Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes 000000000000
7Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders 000000000000
8Flag of New Zealand.svg Moana Pasifika 000000000000
9Flag of Australia (converted).svg Reds 000000000000
10Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs 000000000000
11Flag of Australia (converted).svg Western Force 000000000000
Source: Super Rugby

Round-by-round progression

The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets:

Team Progression
TeamR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13R14R15R16QFSFFinal
BluesTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
BrumbiesTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
ChiefsTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
CrusadersTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
DruaTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
HighlandersTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
HurricanesTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
Moana PasifikaTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
RedsTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
WaratahsTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
Western ForceTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
Key:WinDrawLossByeDNQ = Did not qualify

Matches

Finals series

Qualifying final Semi-finals Grand Final
TBD
TBD
TBDTBD
TBD
TBD

Qualifying finals

TBDv 
TBDv 
TBDv 

Semi-finals

TBDv 
TBDv 

Grand Final

TBDv 

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Although based in Auckland, New Zealand, the Moana Pasifika was established to “create opportunities” to players from Pacific Island countries. [16] They also play one or two matches per season in Tonga and/or Samoa.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Rugby</span> Rugby union club competition

Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It has previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Super Rugby started as the Super 12 in the 1996 season with 12 teams from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, building on competitions dating back to the South Pacific Championship in 1986. The Super 12 was established by SANZAR after the sport became professional in 1995. After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the competition to split into three, the reformed competition in 2021 only included teams from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen Jackson (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Glen Warwick Jackson is a coach for the Fijian Drua and also Fiji national team. Jackson is also a former New Zealand rugby union player and referee. During his playing career, he was a first five-eighth. Domestically, he represented Bay of Plenty and Waikato in the NPC and the Saracens in the UK's Guinness Premiership. His strong performances saw him named in the Chiefs squad for the 1999 Super Rugby season and had international experience as well with New Zealand Māori and the Barbarians.

The Super Rugby competition in rugby union, including teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and, in the past, from Argentina, Japan and South Africa, is based on a "franchise" system of teams. The original member countries – Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – all have several regional franchises, while the expansion countries – Argentina, Fiji, Japan and the Pacific Islands – have/had one franchise each. The article covers specific detail as to the areas covered by each Super Rugby team. Bold denotes stadiums that are current primary stadiums for the franchises.

The 2017 Super Rugby season was the 22nd season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. It was the second season featuring an expanded 18-team format, following the competition's expansion from 15 teams prior to the 2016 season.

The 2017 National Rugby Championship was the fourth season of Australia's National Rugby Championship. It involved nine professional rugby union teams, one more than the previous year, with eight teams from Australia and one team from Fiji.

The Fijian Drua is a professional rugby union team based in Fiji that competes in the Super Rugby. The team was created by the Fiji Rugby Union and launched in August 2017, shortly before the 2017 National Rugby Championship. The team previously competed in the Australian National Rugby Championship competition between 2017 and 2019, when the tournament was disbanded.

The 2021 Super Rugby season was the 26th season of Super Rugby, an annual men's international rugby union tournament organised by SANZAAR, involving teams from Australia and New Zealand. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the tournament was wholly regionalised, with the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season and the 2021 Super Rugby AU season replacing the previous 15 side format used from 2018 till 2020. Super Rugby Trans-Tasman followed these tournaments, a crossover competition that featured the five Australian sides playing the five New Zealand sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasman (National Provincial Championship)</span> Rugby team

Tasman are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, New Zealand. Established in 2006, they play in the National Provincial Championship. They play their home games at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim or Trafalgar Park in Nelson. The team is affiliated with the Crusaders Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are red and blue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Counties Manukau (National Provincial Championship)</span> New Zealand rugby union team

Counties Manukau are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Pukekohe, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1955, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe in the Auckland region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are black, white and red.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moana Pasifika</span> Rugby union team from various Pacific island nations

Moana Pasifika is a rugby union team made up of players from various Pacific Island nations as well as New Zealand or Australian born players of Pasifika heritage, including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

Napolioni Ratu Bolaca is a Fijian rugby sevens and rugby union player, who has played for the Fiji national rugby sevens team since 2019. At club level, he has played for Fijian Drua. Bolaca was the top point scorer in the 2019–20 World Rugby Sevens Series. He was part of the Fijian squad that won the rugby seven tournament at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.

The 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season is the 27th season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the previous seasons were replaced with Super Rugby Unlocked, Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU in 2020, and Super Rugby Aotearoa, Super Rugby AU, and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman in 2021. The 2022 edition will revert to a 12-team competition, with a single pool replacing the geographical conference system, as well as introducing a new name for the reformatted competition. The season is expected to run from 18 February, with the final to be played on 18 June - culminating before the start of the mid-year international window.

Selestino Ravutaumada is a Fijian rugby union player for the Drua. His preferred position is wing or fullback.

The Fijian Drua Women are a Fijian rugby union team based in Fiji. They compete in the Super Rugby Women's competition. They were crowned champions in their inaugural season in 2022, and successfully defended their title in 2023. The first official try to go into the history books for the Fijiana Drua Women’s rugby team was scored by hooker Jiowana Bulaoca Sauto during their inaugural Super W match against the Melbourne Rebels on March 5, 2022, at Endeavour Hills Rugby Grounds.

The 2023 Super Rugby Pacific Season is the 28th season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and a combined team from Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific Island nations. The defending champions are the Crusaders, who won their 11th title in 2022.

The 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season was the 29th season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and a combined team from Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific Island nations. The defending champions are the Crusaders, who won their twelfth title in 2023. The season ran from Friday 23 February 2024, culminating in a final played on Saturday 22 June, before the start of the 2024 mid-year international window.

References

  1. ↑ "Financially-stricken Melbourne Rebels axed from Super Rugby Pacific". Guardian Australia . Guardian Media Group. 30 May 2024. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Pentony, Luke (30 May 2024). "Melbourne Rebels' axing comes as no surprise but the ramifications may not be felt for some time". ABC News . Archived from the original on 2 June 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "New Finals System Headlines Refreshed Super Rugby Pacific Format". super.rugby. SANZAAR. 13 September 2024. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Reive, Christopher (13 September 2024). "Changes revealed for Super Rugby Pacific 2025 season". The New Zealand Herald . New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024.
  5. ↑ "Tournament Format – Super Rugby Pacific". SANZAAR. 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Coach Larkham Sings 2-Year Extension With The Brumbies". super.rugby. SANZAAR. 30 September 2024. The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies are pleased to announce the two-year extension of Super Rugby Pacific Head Coach Stephen Larkham, locking him in the saddle until the conclusion of the 2026 season.
  7. ↑ Williamson, Nathan (20 July 2023). "Les Kiss named Queensland Reds coach". rugby.com.au . Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. The Queensland Reds have confirmed their new head coach, signing Les Kiss on a three-year deal.
  8. ↑ Decent, Tom (3 July 2024). "'I'm motivated': McKellar confirmed as new Waratahs coach". The Sydney Morning Herald . Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024.
  9. ↑ Morton, Finn (12 February 2024). "'Take us to that next level': Coach Simon Cron re-signs with Western Force". Rugbypass. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024.
  10. ↑ "Glen Jackson appointed as the new head coach of the Fijian Drua". Radio New Zealand . 20 May 2024. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024.
  11. ↑ Napier, Liam (3 July 2023). "Super Rugby Pacific: Blues confirm Vern Cotter as new head coach on two-year deal". The New Zealand Herald . New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024.
  12. ↑ "Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan re-signs through to 2026". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. 18 April 2023. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023.
  13. ↑ McKendry, Patrick (1 August 2024). "Rob Penney keeps job at Crusaders after review into horror season". 1 News . Archived from the original on 12 September 2024.
  14. ↑ "Crusaders stick with coach Penney after woeful Super Rugby season". rugby.com.au. 2 August 2024. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024.
  15. ↑ Cully, Paul (10 August 2023). "He's back: Jamie Joseph returns to the Highlanders in new head of rugby role". Stuff . Stuff Limited. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Japan coach returns to Dunedin on four-year deal
  16. ↑ McKay, Brett (17 February 2022). "By introducing the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika, Super Rugby 2022 centres the Pacific". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.