The Fijian Drua will play the Blues in their opening 2022 Super Rugby Pacific match in Auckland, according to match draws released today.
The Blues will host the Fijian Drua at Eden Park on Saturday 19 February, a day after Moana Pasifika opens the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season playing hosts to the Brumbies, also in Auckland, but at Mt Smart Stadium.
The season kicks-off in Australia the same Friday evening with the Waratahs hosting the Hurricanes in Sydney. In other matches, the Reds take on the Chiefs in Brisbane, whilst the Force play the Rebels in an Australian derby as 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa champion Crusaders host the Highlanders at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
Round two of the games will see three double-headers played in Melbourne on Friday 25, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 February. The six matches, will all be played at AAMI Park with the Fijian Drua to line up against the Force in one of the two matches on Saturday evening. According to Super Rugby, the round in Melbourne is being backed by TEG Live, Asia Pacific’s leading live entertainment company and is supported by the Victorian Government and Visit Victoria.
The 18-week tournament will culminate with the final to be played on 18 June. Each team will play 14 regular season matches comprising one match against each of the other teams plus an additional match against three of the other teams, with an emphasis on in-territory derby matches. Each team will have seven home matches and each team will have one bye week in either Round 7, Round 8 or Round 9 providing a level playing field for all teams in the lead up to the Finals. The top eight teams on the table after the regular season will qualify for the three-week finals playoff.
Click HERE for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific match schedule
