History will be up for grabs in 2025 with an inaugural Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final to be played between the respective Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and Super W winners.
The newly created crossover final will see the best two women’s Super Rugby teams from the two competitions go head-to-head, the first official step in increased alignment between the competitions.
New Zealand Rugby’s Head of Women’s High Performance Hannah Porter said the international rivalry would provide a glimpse into the future.
“Giving the fans an opportunity to see the best two Super Rugby teams from the respective competitions go up against each other is an exciting prospect in what is already a special year for women’s rugby.
“Having a Final between the two championship winning teams is a signal of our intention to further align these competitions in the future and we look forward to building on that in 2026.”
The Champions Final will be hosted in New Zealand on the Thursday of Easter weekend and broadcast live on SKY.
Rugby Australia’s General Manager of Women’s Rugby Jilly Collins said:
“Super Rugby Women’s will go to another level in 2025 as our teams compete for both the championship and the right to participate in the first-ever Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final.
“As well as a historic event for the women’s game, the Final will be a showcase of elite women’s rugby that helps to elevate the game across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.”
The Sky Super Rugby Aupiki season kicks off in Hamilton with Chiefs Manawa hosting Matatū while the Hurricanes Poua host the defending champion nib Blues in Wellington on 1 March.
Fans will get a repeat of the 2024 Final in round two, when the nib Blues host the Chiefs Manawa on Friday night at Eden Park in Auckland. Six regular season matches will be double headers with their DHL Super Rugby Pacific counterparts.
Two cities will get to experience Sky Super Rugby Aupiki for the first time in 2025, with Matatū taking their home game against the nib Blues to Trafalgar Park in Nelson, while the return fixture will be at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei.
All six rounds of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki, along with the Final and the Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final will be broadcasted live on SKY.
2024 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Draw
Round 1
Chiefs Manawa v Matatū, Saturday 1 March, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, kick off 2.05pm
Hurricanes Poua v nib Blues, Saturday 1 March, Sky Stadium, Wellington, kick off 4.35pm
Round 2
nib Blues v Chiefs Manawa, Friday 7 March, Eden Park, Auckland, kick off 5.05pm
Matatū v Hurricanes Poua, Sunday 9 March, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, 12.35pm
Round 3
Matatū v nib Blues, Saturday 15 March, Trafalgar Park, Nelson, kick off 2.05pm
Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua, Saturday 15 March, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, kick off 4.35pm
Round 4
Hurricanes Poua v Matatū, Saturday 22 March, NZCIS, Wellington, 2.05pm
Chiefs Manawa v nib Blues, Saturday 22 March, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 4.35pm
Round 5
nib Blues v Matatū, Saturday 29 March, Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei, kick off 2.05pm
Hurricanes Poua v Chiefs Manawa, Saturday 29 march, NZCIS, Wellington, 4.35pm
Round 6
Matatū v Chiefs Manawa, Saturday 5 April, Ngā Puna Wai, Christchurch, kick off 2.05pm
nib Blues v Hurricanes Poua, Saturday 5 April, Eden Park, Auckland, kick off 4.35pm
Final
Saturday 12 April, to be hosted by top qualifying team
Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final
Sky Super Rugby Aupiki champion v Super W Champion, Thursday 17 April, venue tbc
Sky Super Rugby Aupiki winners
2022: Chiefs Manawa
2023: Matatū
2024: nib Blues
With thanks to New Zealand Rugby
