NZR CEO Lancaster outlines how Anzac Day Bledisloe Tests will reshape Super Rugby Pacific

New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster has confirmed that a dedicated bye round will be built into the Super Rugby Pacific schedule to accommodate the newly announced Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Tests, with the first fixture set for Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 25 April 2027.

NZR and Rugby Australia announced on Sunday that three Test matches between the All Blacks and the Wallabies will all be staged at Suncorp Stadium, in 2027, 2029, and 2031. Because the fixture falls during the Super Rugby Pacific season, both organisations have had to consider how to minimise disruption to the sixteen-round club competition.

Speaking to Jason Pine on Newstalk ZB’s Weekend Sport, Lancaster said the structure of the ten-team competition actually works in their favour. “The confirmation now that the competition will be a 10-team competition next year, and for the foreseeable future, enables us to have a full bye round on Anzac Day weekend, and so that is really helpful in terms of not impacting on Super Rugby teams on that weekend,” he said.

The NZR CEO added that the week prior to the Test will see selected players unavailable for their Super Rugby franchises, but framed that as standard practice rather than a new burden. “We currently manage our players across the season really cognisant of their load, and All Blacks and other players don’t play every game in a season either. So this will just be something that the teams will work into their load management and their squad management over the season.”

Lancaster also stressed that equal preparation time for both nations was a central consideration in the planning process. “We’ve ensured that by recognising that we’ll play the game on that weekend. We’ll have a defined period of assembly, but again, we just built this into the program — players will go in and have their leave period, which is really important, they’ll then come back into Super Rugby, they’ll come out of it to play in this fixture, and then they’ll return to Super Rugby for the remainder of that competition.”

The Anzac Day slot replaces what had been a “Super Round” format in Christchurch, where One New Zealand Stadium hosted all five round-eleven matches in 2026. Although Super Round has not been officially confirmed or ruled out for 2027, Lancaster’s comments make clear the festival weekend’s date will shift to accommodate the Test.

Lancaster also confirmed that eligible players who feature in the Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test will be available to return to their Super Rugby Pacific franchises the following week, provided they are fit.