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

A total of 116 players will begin their individual training programmes next month, in the build-up to the fourth season of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki.

Among the squads are some of the world’s leading players alongside 17 potential debutants.

Defending champions the nib Blues announced last week the signing of Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and will add Black Ferns hooker Atlanta Lolohea and 2022 Rugby World Cup winner Awhina Tangen-Wainohu.

The Hurricanes Poua also welcome some front row fire power with Forne Burkin, Natalie Delamare, Esther Faiaoga-Tilo and Angel Mulu all having international experience in the black jersey. Cassie Siataga bolsters the backline, the Tasman first five-eighths making her Aupiki debut after previously playing Super W in Australia.

International experience joins the Chiefs Manawa by way of sevens exponents Kelly Brazier and Tenika Willison who have both previously played for the club. The Manawa welcome Fijian international Jade Coates, who was part of the Farah Palmer Cup-winning Waikato team, and Canadian international Shoshanah Seumanutafa.

Matatū have lured home Black Ferns Chelsea Bremner and Hannah King and boast five potential debutants including USA representative Jett Hayward.

Sky Super Rugby Aupiki is set to play a key role in the preparation of the Black Ferns in the lead up to the 2025 Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand Rugby’s Women’s High Performance Manager Hannah Porter said the competition will be a stage for players to put their best foot forward.

“Every year we see players promoted to the black jersey off the back of standout performances in Aupiki and next year we expect it to be no different.

“The clubs have done a fantastic job identifying a talented cohort of players so fans can start to get excited about next year’s competition,” said Porter.

The Sky Super Rugby Aupiki draw will be announced next month.

2025 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads
nib Blues: Kahlia Awa, Eloise Blackwell, Dajian Brown, Sylvia Brunt, Krysten Cottrell, Ruahei Demant, Oceane Donelley, Sophie Fisher, Aldora Itunu, Kerri Johnson, Jaymie Kolose, Atlanta Lolohea, Danii Mafoe, Patricia Maliepo, Paris Mataroa, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Elizabith Moimoi, Lily Murray-Wihongi, Daynah Nankivell, Maia Roos, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Harono Te Iringa, Cheyenne Tuli-Fale, Tara Turner, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Chryss Viliko, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Holly Wratt-Groeneweg
Coaches: Willie Walker (head coach), Carlos Spencer (backs), Charmaine McMenamin (forwards)

Chiefs Manawa: Mia Anderson, Reece Anderson, Ariana Bayler, Kelly Brazier, Jade Coates, Luka Connor, Veisinia Fakalelu, Vicki Rose Green, Logan Hauraki, Kate Henwood, Chyna Hohepa, Renee Holmes, Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Tanya Kalounivale, Rosie Kelly, Grace Kukutai, Azalleyah Maaka, Krystal Murray, Kiriana Nolan, Mererangi Paul, Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Kennedy Tukuafu, Charmaine Smith, Santo Taumata, Hazel Tubic, Ruby Tui, Tenika Willison
* three players to be added
Coaches: Dwayne Sweeney (head coach), Carla Hohepa (assistant)

Hurricanes Poua: Denise Aiolupotea, Shakira Baker, Raedeen Blake, Forne Burkin, Natalie Delamere, Esther Faiaoga-Tilo, Teilah Ferguson, Te Rauoriwa Gapper, Leilani Hakiwai, Iritana Hohaia, Harmony Kautai, Elinor-Plum King, Lavinia Lea, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Paige Lush, Olioli Mua, Angel Mulu, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Jayme Nuku, Jackie Patea-Fereti, Layla Sae, Cassie Siataga, Kahurangi Sturmey, Rangimarie Sturmey, Monica Tagoai, Payton Takimoana, Ngano Tavake, Samantha Taylor, Isabella Waterman
*one player to be added
Coaches: Fusi Feaunati

Matatū: Laura Bayfield, Alana Bremner, Chelsea Bremner, Grace Brooker, Emma Dermody, Eilis Doyle, Amy du Plessis, Jett Hayward, Tegan Hollows, Lucy Jenkins, Sarah Jones, Maia Joseph, Hannah King, Fia Laikong, Phillipa Love, Martha Mataele, Kelsyn McCook, Hollyrae Mete, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Winnie Palamo, Moomooga Palu, Marcelle Parkes, Abigail Paton, Georgia Ponsonby, Chey Robins-Reti, Amy Rule, Keighley Simpson, Tayla Simpson, Fiaali’I Solomona, Charlotte Va’afusaga
Coaches: Whitney Hansen (head coach), Simon Kneebone (assistant), Jason Kjestrup (assistant)

Key Facts
– Competition debutants: Blues (4) Chiefs Manawa (4), Hurricanes Poua (4), Matatū (5)
– 2024 contracted Black Ferns: Blues (13), Chiefs Manawa (12), Hurricanes Poua (4), Matatū (11)
– Former Black Ferns: Blues (4), Chiefs (5), Hurricanes Poua (7), Matatū (3)
– There are four International players, Shoshanah Seumanutafa (Canada) and Jade Coates (Fiji) at Chiefs Manawa, Cassie Siataga (Samoa) at the Hurricanes Poua, and Jett Hayward (USA) at Matatū
– 28 players are foundation members of their club preparing for their fourth season, Blues (8), Chiefs Manawa (5), Hurricanes Poua (6), Matatū (9)

With thanks to New Zealand Rugby

Players are already immersed in a newly extended pre-season training window ahead of a season and with every match played at 2.05pm or 4.35pm the 2024 season promises to showcase open, running rugby from start to finish.

Matatū, Chiefs Manawa, Hurricanes Poua and the nib Blues will play a full home and away schedule before the top two teams meet in the final on Saturday 13 April.

New Zealand Rugby’s Women’s High Performance Manager Hannah Porter said: “It’s great to announce the 2024 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki draw. Once again matches will be played across the country, with all teams having the opportunity to play their opposition both and home and away.

“We expect to be entertained by the fast pace, engaging style our women play. Adding to this, the growth and injection of new talent across the Aupiki squads it will be exciting to see the positive influence that will have. We look forward to the competition kicking off.”

As they did in 2023, Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua will again launch the season when they meet at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday 2 March, followed by defending champions Matatū hosting the nib Blues.

Fans will have to wait to round three to see a repeat of the thrilling 2023 final when Chiefs Manawa host Matatū in a Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and DHL Super Rugby Pacific doubleheader at FMG Stadium Waikato, one of five doubleheaders across the season.

More fans in the regions will also get the chance to attend Sky Super Rugby Aupiki matches in 2024 with the Hurricanes Poua taking matches to Palmerston North and Levin. All remaining venues will be announced by clubs in the New Year.

All six rounds of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki will be broadcasted live and exclusive on SKY.

Players will come into the season off the back of a newly extended eight-week individual training window before playing pre-season matches in February before the season kicks off in March.

2024 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Draw
Round 1
Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua, Saturday 2 March, FMG Stadium Waikato, kick off 2.05pm
Matatū v nib Blues, Saturday 2 March, venue TBC, kick off 4.35pm

Round 2
nib Blues v Chiefs Manawa, Saturday 9 March, venue TBC, kick off 2.05pm
Hurricanes Poua v Matatū, Saturday 9 March, SKY Stadium, 4.35pm

Round 3
nib Blues v Hurricanes Poua, Saturday 16 March, venue TBC, kick off 2.05pm
Chiefs Manawa v Matatū, Saturday 16 March, FMG Stadium Waikato, kick off 4.35pm

Round 4
Hurricanes Poua v Chiefs Manawa, Friday 22 March, CET Arena Palmerston North, kick off 4.35pm
nib Blues v Matatū, Saturday 23 March, Eden Park, kick off 4.35pm

Round 5
Matatū v Hurricanes Poua, Friday 29 March, Apollo Projects Stadium, kick off 4.35pm
Chiefs Manawa v nib Blues, Saturday 30 March, venue TBC, kick off 2.05pm

Round 6
Hurricanes Poua v nib Blues, Saturday 6 April, Levin Domain, kick off 2.05pm
Matatū v Chiefs Manawa, Ngā Puna Wai, Christchurch, kick off 4.05pm

With thanks to New Zealand Rugby

One thoroughly exciting game versus four walk-overs. That is not how the Prem 15s was meant to work out.

As we move into the 6 Nations break, the gap between the top 5 and bottom 5 opens out to twelve points; within those bottom five the margin is a chasm-like 29 points.

Results

Bristol Bears 31 Harlequins 26
DMP Sharks 0 Saracens 73 (played at Billingham RUFC, Darlington Arena frozen))
Wasps 5 Loughborough Lightning 70
Gloucester-Hartpury 50 University of Worcester Warriors 12

Sunday Match

Exeter Chiefs 52 Sale Sharks 14 (Chiefs’ own youtube livestream)

Bears v Harlequins

All the excitement was at Shaftesbury Park, where fourth met fifth. And Quins disturbed the confidence of the home supporters by taking an immediate lead. In the electric battle between England’s two top hookers Amy Cokayne went ahead with a try.

Almost inevitably Lark Davies responded with one of her own. She is in grave danger of leading the try-scoring charts for a third time. By half-time three more tries had been completed, leaving Quins ahead and the Bears troubled.

Both Davies and Rownita Marston completed their second try of the day, but Bella McKenzie made a dramatic charge-down to complete a try that she converted herself to bring scores level.

It needed a special intervention from a player all too used to such moments; Sarah Bern drove over the line to clinch a game that had swung thrillingly this way and that.

Despite Bern’s tour de force at the close, the Bears could move only four points away from their challengers. Two points from a losing game remain a rare consolation. Whether they can prove decisive, only the final four rounds will tell. But for them we have to wait till the distant future, 13 May to 3 June.

One curiosity in Bristol was the return of Heather Cowell to the Quins’ starting XV, another indication of the blurred distinction between the GB 7s squad, club rugby and the Red Roses.

In turn it meant Abby Dow played at full-back; that may have been an official request from the England management or simply Amy Turner’s reading of the best resources available to her.

In the remaining Saturday games it was largely one-way traffic

Molly Saunders did well to get the opening score for Wasps at home before Lightning commanded the scene, scoring a dozen tries. As one-sided as this game was, it ended a worrying sequence of eight away losses for Lightning.

The result at Billingham was also what every realist expected. Only here DMP couldn’t manage a score against a Sarries’ squad that knows it can’t afford to give anything away if it wants to return to the top of the pile.

Holly Aitchison had another opportunity to stake a claim for the England No 10 shirt, and Jess Breach reminded the selectors of her qualities playing at full-back. She too will want to be back in the mix come the first round of the 6N on 25 March. A typical end-to-end score won’t do her chances any harm. Coreen Grant of Scotland took the scoring honours with four tries.

Only at the Alpas Stadium was the losing side able to reach double figures, thanks to a determined thrust to the line by Lydia Thompson in the closing moments. But Glos-Pury had the bonus-point secured by half-time, and they continued to enjoy themselves to reach yet another half-century of points.

So scoreboards up and down the land looked uncomfortably like cricket scoreboards.

Exeter Chiefs v Sale Sharks

These were the two new entrants in 2020, so it’s interesting to see how they are dealing with the challenges of elite club rugby. A few stats tell their tale: both had five England-qualified starters only. There were two Red Roses on view among the 46, Poppy Leitch, captaining the hosts, and Claudia Macdonald, who signed tween-season from Wasps. North American accents predominated across large tracts of turf.

Now both mangements are planning how to deal with the limitation placed on non England- qualified players next year. Precisely how many will they need to get rid of?

The Game

The usual wind was gusting off the Atlantic, but Sale made too little use of it in the first half.

It took Chiefs four minutes to set the scoreboard moving, Ebony Jefferies going over behind a drive. (5-0)

There was a sharp contrast in the handling skills of the two sides: Chiefs were slick and accurate, Sharks laboured and unproductive.

Like Quins, Sharks make great use of the caterpilar ruck, but to little effect. Mhairi Grieve’s slow reclaim of the ball and inaccurate box-kicks gave the defences time to position themselves. When she did kick short for her forwards, only one was there to effect a tackle, and possession was handed over yet again.

On 10 minutes Lori Cramer finished a clean passing move on the right. (10-0) Rachel Johnson was allowed a long run, DaLeaka Menin finished the job. (17-0)

It took Sharks 25 minutes to make their first first line-break; they seemed unable to string three consecutive passes together before they ran into another brick wall.

Things improved after half-an-hour, Catie Benson going over after good combos, especially by Katana Howard. Sarah Law converted. (17-7)

Chiefs countered, Nichola Fryday finishing an attack just before the break, a bad time for a side to concede.

Half-time 24-7, and the bonus point assured.

The second half began ominously for the Sharks; they were driven off a scrum, and although they kept possession initially, the ball fell into the grasp of Claudia Macdonald, the only player on view to represent England at the World Cup. She ran in from a distance, no-one able to lay a hand on her.

Almost inevitably, Chiefs went on to reach the half-century, completing four out of five across the weekend.

Sara Tounesi epitomised Sale’s commitment, scoring the last try of the game. She had been prominent throughout, constantly looking for adventurous off-loads. But it was all too late.

Result: 52-14

Table                       P​     W​      L​      Pts

Exeter​​​                    14       13      1         65
Gloucester-H       14       13     ​ 1         64
Saracens​​               14        11     3         55
Bristol​​​                    14       9       5         46
Harlequins  ​​         14        8      6         42  ​
UWW      ​​               14       5       9         30
Sale                   ​​      14       5       9        24
Lightning         ​​​      14       4       10      23
DMPS ​​                    14        ​2      12       10
Wasps                    14         0      14       0

Exeter Chiefs 14 Gloucester-Hartpury 14
Saracens Bristol Bears Harlequins UWW
Sale Sharks Lightning DMP Sharks Wasps

Super Rugby Aupiki

Chiefs Manawa 46 Matatu 38
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
ARs: Ben Woolerton and Tiana Ngawati TMO: Lee Jeffrey

Hurricanes Poua 22 Blues 31
Referee: Nick Hogan
ARs: Tarsha Ganley and Jack Sargentina TMO: Aaron Paterson

with thanks to rugbyreferee.com

Officials and planners are now assessing what it achieved and what remains to be done. For many the answer to the second question is: an awful lot.

The tournament had been dreamed up long before the Black Ferns’ fateful 2021 tour of Europe took place. From the start critics queried the small number of competing teams, four, and the scope of the enterprise.

Then Omicron came calling. The published schedule had to be pared down, so the last match (Chiefs Manama overwhelmed Blues 35-0) took the place of a proper final. This was only Blues’ second match. Hurricanes Poua had to call off their opening match against them after players tested positive and had to isolate.

You could claim that the pandemic hit New Zealand harder than any of the leading rugby nations, though Australia, Canada and the USA will surely disagree. The trouble is, the World Cup is taking place in Aotearoa this autumn, and the Black Ferns are desperate to retain their crown.

After the final match Alan Bunting, head coach of the winning team, said he felt as though the competition was only just beginning.

Was it all the fault of Covid-19?

Many (mostly women’s) voices shout No!

Why did the Black Ferns suffer a two-year break in test matches when the All Blacks certainly didn’t? NZR stands accused of neglecting the women’s sector, the result being the gulf in current playing standards between Europe and Aotearoa.

Why had the Black Ferns’ Sevens squad enjoyed contracts for a decade when their 15s sisters hadn’t?

The cynical view would be that supporting the 7s squad meant a smaller outlay for the national union (far fewer players) plus the prestige of winning major trophies like Olympic medals.

Within the tournament itself some observers were concerned at the quality of the play. Despite an adjusted format (see below), handling and set-pieces fell below par, penalties multiplied as discipline lapsed, the intensity of games fell away towards the end, defences grew less competitive.

But players had to operate out of bubbles; mothers, of whom there were several including the Black Ferns captain, Les Elder, were separated from their children for three weeks.

Aroha Savage, captain of the Blues and another mum, wondered whether player welfare had been jeopardised in the rush to get the tournament staged.

At its most extreme, concern centres on whether there are enough players coming through of the quality needed. For the rest of the rugby world looking on from afar, this must be the most startling admission.

Playing Regulations

Innovative variations in playing regulations were introduced: matches consisted of 2 x 35-minute halves; half-time was extended to a full quarter-hour; rolling substitutions were permitted.

The shortened halves mirrored the adjustments made last year to the Allianz Premier 15s league in England; the half-time interval seems like a movable feast anyway; the effect of rolling subs could only lower the intensity each player would feel when faced with proper test match conditions.

Future prospects

The Black Ferns have the Pac-4 to look forward to (Pac = Pacific), bringing them up against Australia, Canada and USA. This is a foretaste of the global WXV tournament that awaits in 2023. But current playing standards mean that only the Maple Leafs will provide the Ferns with the sort of challenge they desperately seek.

Of course next year’s Super Aupiki will, we hope, be staged in its full finery, with several embellishments possible, but that will be too late for the RWC.

A quite separate matter is due more promptly: the review into the state of NZ women’s rugby, the traumatic results against England and France, and the worrying issues involving Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate and head coach Glenn Moore, should see the light of day next week.