'Our competition will again deliver': Joseph Suaalii centre stage as Super Rugby Pacific draw unveiled

The 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season will kick off with a Friday night double header on February 14.

The Crusaders will host the Hurricanes in Christchurch in an all-Kiwi opening match while the Waratahs will be the first Australian team in action as they welcome the Highlanders to Sydney later that night.

The Waratahs will feature high profile NRL recruit Joseph Suaalii and new Wallabies signings including Taniela Tupou.

Watch the Wallabies and Wallaroos with every match streaming ad free, live and on demand on the home of rugby, Stan Sport

Tupou has moved north from Melbourne in the offseason after the Rebels were cut from the competition following financial woes.

And with only 11 teams left, organisers have sensibly opted to cut an eight team finals format down to six.

There will be 77 round robin games played across 16 weeks including an Easter Saturday quartet of games in New Zealand, Fiji and Australia on April 19.

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Anzac Day will be honoured in round 11 with the Chiefs to host the Force and the Reds to welcome the Blues.

"We are delighted to unveil the draw for 2025 so members and fans can begin circling dates in their diaries and making plans for the season ahead," new Super Rugby chief executive Jack Mesley said.

"From Suva to Sydney, Canberra to Christchurch, and even a blockbuster in Tonga, our competition will again deliver its brand of fast, physical and thrilling rugby, starring some of our game's greatest athletes.

"Traditional rivalries will be reignited and new challengers emerge as the reigning champion Blues launch their first title defence in more than two decades."

Teams will play seven home games and seven away in addition to two byes.

The qualifying finals will be 1 vs 6, 2 vs 5 and 3 vs 4 with the higher seeded teams to host.

"The introduction of three Sunday afternoon fixtures will make it easier for families to experience the excitement of the Super Rugby Pacific, and we can look to build on that offering in future seasons.

"We're particularly excited about the new finals series, which is designed to produce highly competitive matchups while still rewarding the teams that finish at the top of the table."

2025 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC FINALS SERIES

• In week one of the finals series, qualifying finals will be 1 vs 6, 2 vs 5 and 3 vs 4 with the higher seeded teams to host.
• The three winners of the qualifying finals will progress to the semi-finals.
• They will be joined by the highest seeded losing team (the 'lucky loser'), who will drop one seeding for the semi-final draw
• Semi-finals will be 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 with the higher seeded teams to host.
• The two winners of the semi-finals will progress to the grand final, which will be hosted by the higher seeded team.