Fans can expect another action-packed Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season as 2024 fixtures for the Fijian Drua have been released this week.
For the first time, Fijian Drua will host NSW Waratahs and Western Force on home soil, while top sides returning to play in front of the world’s best rugby fans include defending champions Crusaders, Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika, Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels.
The new season will see another Super Round in week two of the competition in Melbourne. Pacific pride will be on the line in Melbourne as the Drua take on Moana Pasifika on Saturday 2 March, with the Fijians hoping to keep their 100% win record against Moana intact. Other matches in the Super Round in Melbourne will see the Highlanders taking on the Blues and Rebels taking on Western Force on Friday, while Crusaders battle NSW Waratahs on Saturday. Sunday’s fixtures will see the Chiefs facing the ACT Brumbies, and the Hurricanes playing Queensland Reds.
The 2024 draw sees the 12 teams playing 14 matches during the regular season, consisting of 11 round robin matches and three additional rivalry clashes, followed by an eight-team finals series.
The Drua made history last season by becoming the fastest new team to make the quarterfinals, in only their second year in the competition.
Fijian Drua CEO, Mark Evans, said: “We will begin formal pre-season for 2024 shortly, but all Drua players are currently engaged in training and various competitions. This includes 18 main squad players currently with the Flying Fijians at the Rugby World Cup, players playing in Skipper Cup competition in Fiji and club competitions in Australia and New Zealand. We are all aware of the expectations of our amazing fans, who rallied us all the way to the quarter-final last season. The Drua will work hard to make them proud again in 2024.”
Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific Tournament Director, Matt Barlow, said: “As we enter the third year of Super Rugby Pacific, it’s exciting to see how far the competition has come, how fans have engaged, how law variations have improved the flow of the game, and how richly the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika have enhanced the tournament.
“The announcement of the match schedule for the 2024 edition of the Super Rugby Pacific tournament will allow fans to plan their attendance and get set to follow their favourite teams and players.
“We will once again see matches played in Australia, Fiji and New Zealand, whilst we continue to work with our teams in potentially confirming matches in other countries throughout the Pacific region.
The Fijian Drua will kick-off its season in Auckland against the Blues on 23 February 2024.
