Super Rugby 2023

[Kiwiwomble]

@Crucial yeah, some basic photoshop to put half the logos on the other side would have helped

[Bovidae]

The Highlanders had jumped the gun with their fixture announcement yesterday.

https://www.allblacks.com/news/dhl-super-rugby-pacific-2023-draw-announced/

Key features of the 2023 DHL Super Rugby Pacific draw:

· Each team plays 14 regular season matches
· Round 1 features traditional rivalry fixtures
· The Waratahs will host the Brumbies in the first ever fixture at the new Allianz Stadium in Sydney
· Round 2 is the Super Round in Melbourne
· All teams play all other teams in the competition
· All teams play three extra ‘rivalry’ games which create home and away mini-series
· All teams will have their byes between Rounds 7, 8 & 9
· Top eight teams reach the finals

DHL SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC AT A GLANCE

Season opener: Crusaders v Chiefs at Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch.
Format: 12 teams: Moana Pasifika, Fijian Drua, Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders, Highlanders, Waratahs, Reds, Force, Brumbies, Rebels
14 regular season matches = 11 round-robin matches + 3 rivalry matches
One bye round per team (all byes in Rounds 7, 8 & 9)
Season Length: 18 weeks = 15-week regular season + three-week eight-team playoff series
Total Matches: 91
Super Round: Round 2, Friday-Sunday 3-5 March @ AAMI Park Melbourne.
Rivalry matches: Each team plays three teams twice (one at home match, one away match per rivalry)

· Blues: Rivalry opponents are the Hurricanes, Highlanders and Crusaders
· Chiefs: Rivalry opponents are the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Highlanders
· Crusaders: Rivalry opponents are the Blues, Chiefs and Moana Pasifika
· Highlanders: Rivalry opponents are the Blues, Force and Chiefs
· Hurricanes: Blues, Chiefs and Moana Pasifika
· Moana Pasifika: Hurricanes, Highlanders and Fijian Drua
· Fijian Drua: Moana Pasifika, Reds and Waratahs
· Force: Highlanders, Reds and Rebels
· Reds: Fijian Drua, Force and Brumbies
· Rebels: Force, Waratahs and Brumbies
· Waratahs: Fijian Drua, Rebels and Brumbies
· Brumbies: Reds, Rebels and Waratahs

[Duluth]

Not a fan of the rivalry matches

The additional games are tougher for NZ teams and easier for the Aussie teams. The NZ teams that play MP twice also have an advantage over the other NZ sides

[Bovidae]

As long as the rivalry matches are rotated each season, that's the best we can hope for. Not ideal though.

[antipodean]

@Bovidae That's shit. Does the person who does the draw hate rugby?

[taniwharugby]

Rivalries, very much forced medi BS.

Rivalries are built through history, not like this.

The fact the Blues/Chiefs are not in this "rivalry" thing when they share borders, kinda makes it an even dumber concept.

[KiwiMurph]

Hurricanes get to play in Townsville in February.

[Canes4life]

@KiwiMurph that is going to be sweltering.

Other than that I’m happy with the Canes draw. Brumbies and Crusaders at home instead of away, Moana Pasifika twice, Force at home so no need to travel to Perth.

[Bovidae]

@taniwharugby It's a stupid term to use in that context. With only 5 "rivals" a team will only play one other team twice in consecutive years. In 2024 the Blues and Chiefs will play each other twice again.

[Torian]

we ended up with the force as a rivalry opponent

[Torian]

Crusaders vs landers not taking place in the south island at least once Is certainly a decision

[Chris]

@Duluth said in Super Rugby 2023:

he NZ teams that play MP twice also have an advantage over the other NZ sides

yep the Blues had that luxury last season.

[Torian]

@Chris as did the Canes

[taniwharugby]

So all Blues home games at EP by the looks?

Covid stopped games up here in 2020 and 2022 (can't recall if one was scheduled for 2021)

Will be interesting to see if having MP at Mt Smart affects blues games...

[KiwiMurph]

@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby 2023:

Will be interesting to see if having MP at Mt Smart affects blues games...

Hopefully MP can start to get some half decent crowds.

They really struggled to get anyone to go this year.

[Stargazer]

Preseason game:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjT0aTOvfzW/

[Tim]

Squad announcement in the next couple of weeks

We heard there’s a few free agents on the market

Who would you like to see in the squad for 2023?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjoMq1Ghe0I/

[Bovidae]

The free agent comment, even just to be humorous, might explain why some teams have been very quiet about signings to date.

[Daffy Jaffy]

This written on 'The Roar' transfers page -

According to a spokesperson from the Hurricanes, the squads will be officially revealed late in October – with the 26th a likely date.

[mariner4life]

@Tim said in Super Rugby 2023:

Squad announcement in the next couple of weeks

We heard there’s a few free agents on the market

Who would you like to see in the squad for 2023?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjoMq1Ghe0I/

the Blues are getting Josh Addo-Carr?