Significant changes are on the horizon for Super Rugby Pacific in the upcoming season, featuring an expanded 16-round regular season, Sunday afternoon matches, and a more competitive six-team finals format.
The 2025 season is set to kick off on February 14, a week earlier than in previous years, to accommodate the added round of matches. The schedule will include family-friendly afternoon games, with three fixtures on Sundays, and there are plans to explore additional Sunday matches in the future.
Key features of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific format include:
– Participation of 11 teams: ACT Brumbies, Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Fijian Drua, Highlanders, Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, and Western Force.
– Each team will play 14 regular season matches, consisting of seven home games, seven away games, and will receive two byes.
– Teams will face four rivals twice while playing against the other six teams once.
– The top six teams will qualify for the Finals Series, which spans three weeks.
– In the first week of the Finals, Qualifying Finals will feature matchups of 1 vs 6, 2 vs 5, and 3 vs 4, with the higher-seeded teams hosting.
– The three winners from the Qualifying Finals will advance to the Semi-Finals.
– The highest-seeded losing team from the Qualifying Finals will also join the Semi-Finals, but with a reduction in seeding.
– The Semi-Finals will match 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3, again with the higher seeds hosting.
– The two winning teams from the Semi-Finals will meet in the Grand Final, hosted by the higher-seeded team.
Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley expressed excitement over the new structure, emphasizing that fan experience is a priority. He highlighted the introduction of Sunday afternoon matches to enhance family engagement and looked forward to the competitive nature of the new Finals Series.
In summary, the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Finals Series includes:
– FINALS WEEK ONE – QUALIFYING FINALS
1st seed vs. 6th seed
2nd seed vs. 5th seed
3rd seed vs. 4th seed
– FINALS WEEK TWO – SEMI-FINALS
1st seed vs. 4th seed
2nd seed vs. 3rd seed
– FINALS WEEK THREE – GRAND FINAL
1st seed vs. 2nd seed