An Anzac Day eve match in Brisbane and a pair of ACT Brumbies fixtures at Manuka Oval are among the exciting highlights revealed by clubs as a sneak peek at the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific draw on Monday.
The first taste of the 2027 schedule ahead of the full announcement on Tuesday has given fans plenty to look forward to in a massive year for the sport in the region.
The April 24 match between the Reds and Blues adds to the magnitude of the inaugural Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test at Suncorp Stadium.
The two sides have built a growing rivalry over the weekend, taking advantage of the hype around the Test match in the region.
“It will be a wonderful festival of rugby,” Queensland Rugby Union CEO Dave Hanham said.
“Rugby wants to be the best experience in Australian sport on a weekend of special meaning to generations of Australians.
“Credit to those in Australia and New Zealand who have had the vision to make the weekend such an event for fans from both countries.”
The Reds will open their season away in Christchurch, facing the Crusaders in what will be Richie Mo’unga’s first game back after returning from Japan.
Meanwhile, for the Brumbies, they’ll take multiple games away from GIO Stadium, facing the Force in Round 6 and the Reds in Round 9 at Corroboree Group Oval in Manuka.
It’s a move years in the making, with the team last playing games at the venue in the maiden year of Super Rugby in 1996.
Other matches include the Force taking on the Brumbies in Round 2 on Friday night - their first home Friday night game in five years.
It’s one of three Friday night fixtures at HBF Park, to the delight of Force director of strategic projects Matt Hodgson.
“To open our Friday night campaign against the Brumbies in Perth is exactly the type of fixture we wanted. The Brumbies are one of the competition’s benchmark teams and there’s always an edge when they come to HBF Park,” he said.
The Waratahs will host the Crusaders in Round 9 in a rare Sunday afternoon game for the NSW side.
It is also 13 years on from returning coach Michael Cheika’s title success against the champion side in 2014.
The defending champion Hurricanes begin their title defence away from home against the Blues, and will travel to Fiji for a Friday night showdown against the Drua on April 30.
The Chiefs will get their chance at a Grand Final rematch at home in Round 7, taking on the Hurricanes across the Easter long weekend, while the Highlanders' first home game will be against the Blues on 20 February.
