What is confirmed for the 2027 Super Rugby fixtures, how the draw is built, and a recap of the 2026 fixtures and finals.
Super Rugby Fixtures: How the Draw Works and What’s Set for 2027
If you are looking for the 2027 Super Rugby fixtures, the short answer is that only part of the draw is out. When we checked on 11 September 2026, Super Rugby Pacific had confirmed the season’s start and finish dates and the five Super Round games, but had not yet published the full round-by-round fixture list.
2027 draw status (checked 11 September 2026)
Season starts: Friday 12 February 2027. Grand Final: Saturday 26 June 2027.
Confirmed so far: 10 teams, 16 games each over 17 weeks, one bye per team, and Super Round in Christchurch on 2–4 April 2027.
Still to come: the full draw with every date, venue and kick-off time.
This page covers what is confirmed for 2027, how a Super Rugby draw is put together, and how the 2026 fixtures and finals played out. For the teams and the rules of the competition, start with our Super Rugby Pacific explainer.
What this article answers: What is confirmed for the 2027 Super Rugby fixtures, how the draw is put together, and how the 2026 fixtures and finals played out.
Main points
- As of 11 September 2026, the 2027 start and finish dates and the Super Round games were confirmed, but the full round-by-round draw was not yet out.
- The 2027 season has 10 teams after Moana Pasifika’s exit, with 16 regular-season games and one bye per team.
- The 2026 season opened on 13 February with the Highlanders beating the defending champions in Dunedin.
- The page also recaps the 2026 finals game by game.
Super Rugby fixtures for 2027: what is confirmed
The 2027 season will be the first with 10 teams since Moana Pasifika’s exit at the end of 2026. Each team plays 16 regular-season games, two more than in 2026, and has one bye instead of two.
The finals also change. The top six still qualify, but first and second get a week off and go straight to the semi-finals. Third hosts sixth and fourth hosts fifth in sudden-death elimination finals, and the winners travel for the semi-finals.
Super Round is the first block of fixtures to be published. It is Round 8, played at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, with all 10 teams in action:
| Day | Fixture | Kick-off (NZ time) |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 2 April 2027 | Crusaders v Brumbies | 7:35pm |
| Saturday 3 April 2027 | Chiefs v Western Force | 5:05pm |
| Saturday 3 April 2027 | Blues v Waratahs | 7:35pm |
| Sunday 4 April 2027 | Highlanders v Fijian Drua | 2:00pm |
| Sunday 4 April 2027 | Hurricanes v Reds | 4:30pm |
How the Super Rugby draw is put together
A Super Rugby draw has to fit a set number of games into a fixed window between February and June. In 2026 the regular season ran for 16 rounds. Each of the 11 teams played 14 games, seven at home and seven away, and had two byes.
Not every team played every other team twice. Each side met four “rivals” home and away and its six other opponents once, which produced 77 regular-season matches. The rival pairings are why New Zealand derbies such as the Blues against the Crusaders tend to appear twice in a season.
Byes matter more than they look. A team on a bye earns no points that weekend, so the teams around it on the table can pull ahead, so mid-season standings can mislead until everyone has had the same number of byes.
The 2026 Super Rugby fixtures in review
The 2026 season opened on Friday 13 February with a last-minute upset in Dunedin, where the Highlanders beat the defending champions:
| Round 1 fixture | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Highlanders v Crusaders | Highlanders 25–23 | Dunedin |
| Waratahs v Reds | Waratahs 36–12 | Sydney |
| Fijian Drua v Moana Pasifika | Moana Pasifika 40–26 | Lautoka |
| Blues v Chiefs | Chiefs 19–15 | Auckland (Eden Park) |
| Western Force v Brumbies | Brumbies 56–24 | Perth |
Round 11 was the first Super Round held in New Zealand. Christchurch staged five games from Friday 24 April to Sunday 26 April: Crusaders v Waratahs, Hurricanes v Brumbies and Blues v Reds on Anzac Day, then Highlanders v Moana Pasifika and Chiefs v Fijian Drua. Visitors spent $13.1 million in the city over the three days, according to figures reported by the Otago Daily Times.
The regular season finished with the Hurricanes on top of the table on 55 points, four ahead of the Chiefs. The Western Force missed the top six by four points.
The 2026 Super Rugby finals, game by game
| Stage | Date | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying final | Fri 5 June | Hurricanes 66–12 Brumbies | Wellington |
| Qualifying final | Sat 6 June | Chiefs 46–24 Reds | Hamilton |
| Qualifying final | Sat 6 June | Crusaders 52–31 Blues | Christchurch |
| Semi-final | Fri 12 June | Chiefs 49–12 Crusaders | Hamilton |
| Semi-final | Sat 13 June | Hurricanes 57–21 Blues | Wellington |
| Final | Sat 20 June | Hurricanes 60–5 Chiefs | Wellington |
The Blues were the side most affected by the new finals rule. After losing their qualifier they went through as the highest-ranked losing team, but as the fourth seed they had to travel to Wellington for the semi-final. The final was the biggest winning margin in a Super Rugby decider. Our Super Rugby 2025 review shows how different the previous year’s finals were, when a one-point upset sent the top seed on the lucky loser’s route.
Squads, contracts and planning for 2027
Contracting for 2027 began early. Before the 2026 season kicked off, Super Rugby’s official site reported new deals at the Blues and Crusaders, including Xavier Saifoloi extending his Crusaders contract until the end of the 2027 campaign.
Byes shape fantasy teams too, because a player whose team is on a bye cannot score that round. Learn more about super rugby fantasy at RugbyUnion.nz, or read our guide to the official Super Rugby Fantasy rules before the 2027 game opens.
Following a team on the road adds up quickly once flights, accommodation and match tickets are counted. If you are setting up a separate travel fund, a partner site explains New Zealand’s “big four” banks and accounting firms. Learn more about NZ agencies.
Using the fixture list for betting
The draw tells you more than dates. Short turnarounds, long trips to Perth and games straight after a bye can all affect a team, and bookmakers price those factors into head-to-head and line markets.
In New Zealand, TAB NZ is the only operator legally allowed to offer online sports betting, and you must be 18 or over to bet. Our rugby betting guide explains how line and total-points markets settle, and the TAB NZ overview covers deposit limits and other account tools.
Please read: This page is general sports information for readers aged 18 and over. It is not betting, financial or legal advice, and it does not encourage anyone to gamble. Since 28 June 2025, TAB NZ has been the only operator allowed to offer online racing and sports betting to people in New Zealand.
If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, free and confidential help is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or free text 8006. The Problem Gambling Foundation also offers free counselling.
Reference sources
- Brumbies Rugby — Super Rugby Pacific unveils expanded 2027 season and revamped Finals Series
- RugbyPass — Super Round locks in host city and five-match schedule for 2027 return
- All Blacks — A cracker Round One of DHL Super Rugby Pacific 2026
- NZ Rugby — Super Round confirmed for Christchurch in 2026
- Ruck — Super Rugby qualifying finals recap
- Otago Daily Times — Christchurch stadium to host another Super Round in April
FAQs
Has the 2027 Super Rugby draw been released?
Not in full. As of 11 September 2026, the start date, Grand Final date and the five Super Round fixtures were confirmed, but the complete round-by-round draw had not been published.
When does Super Rugby 2027 start?
The season starts on Friday 12 February 2027, and the Grand Final is on Saturday 26 June 2027.
Where is Super Round in 2027?
At One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch from 2 to 4 April 2027, starting with the Crusaders against the Brumbies on the Friday night.
How many games does each team play in 2027?
Sixteen regular-season games across 17 weeks, with one bye each. In 2026 teams played 14 games and had two byes.
Who won the 2026 Super Rugby final?
The Hurricanes beat the Chiefs 60–5 at Hnry Stadium in Wellington on 20 June 2026.
How do the 2027 finals work?
First and second go straight to the semi-finals. Third hosts sixth and fourth hosts fifth in elimination finals, and the winners play the semi-finals away from home.
