Super Rugby Pacific has confirmed a revamped competition structure for the 2027 season featuring an expanded regular season and a new high-stakes finals series, following the demise of Moana Pasifika.
The season will begin on Friday 12 February, with the competition’s 10 teams going head-to-head across an extended 17-week regular season.
The extra week combined with a reduction in byes from two to one means each team will play 16 regular season matches – two more than 2026.
Just last week New Zealand Rugby confirmed that Moana Pasifika would not be involved in next year’s competition, after several bids to rescue the team were rejected.
New Zealand Rugby said none were able to demonstrate the level of committed funding required to meet NZR’s financial and operational requirements.
The squads for the first Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test will be named following round nine, effectively transforming the opening two months of the season into a shoot-out for national selection.
A rejig of the finals series for 2027 means the top six teams on the ladder will still qualify; however, the teams that finish first and second will get a week off and advance directly to the semi-finals.
Teams ranked third and fourth will host sudden-death elimination finals against the teams finishing fifth and sixth respectively, with the winners progressing as away teams for the semi-final fixtures.
Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley said the refreshed format had been designed to make the most of the 20-week competition window while delivering a more compelling finals series.
“We’re delighted to have developed a structure that pushes the limits of our competition window to deliver more games and give every fan more opportunities to see their favourite teams in action,” Mesley said.
“At the same time, our new-look finals series ensures teams will be more desperate than ever to finish in the top two to secure a week off, and the top four to host a home final, while every finals game will be a genuine do-or-die contest on the road to the championship.
“The introduction of the Anzac Bledisloe to our calendar will help ensure every match means more, with Test jerseys up for grabs from the moment we kick off in February.
“Off the back of the success of Super Round in 2026, we are working diligently to confirm it remains an integral part of our calendar next year.
“We’re already looking forward to the storylines, drama and excitement that this new structure will help deliver for Super Rugby Pacific in 2027.”
The 2027 Super Rugby Pacific grand final will be played on Saturday 26 June.
Further details regarding the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific draw will be announced in the coming weeks.
2027 Super Rugby Pacific finals series
Week one – elimination finals
1 vs. lowest-seeded EF winner
2 vs. highest-seeded EF winner
Highest-seeded SF winner vs. lowest-seeded SF winner
