Super Rugby Pacific 2027 draw confirmed: every Australian side's full schedule

The Super Rugby Pacific 2027 season draw is set, with all five Australian franchises now knowing their full round-robin schedules ahead of an opening round that begins on February 12.

The Brumbies and Waratahs kick off the Australian campaign with a derby at Canberra’s GIO Stadium on the Friday evening of round one, setting the tone for what promises to be a competitive domestic battle throughout the season. Defending champions the Hurricanes will cross the Tasman twice during the regular season, visiting Sydney to face the Waratahs on March 5 and travelling to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in late May to take on the Reds.

Last season ended in disappointment for Australian sides, with the Brumbies and Reds both eliminated in the Qualifying Finals before an all-New Zealand semi-final lineup saw the Hurricanes, Blues, Chiefs, and Crusaders contest the final four. The Hurricanes ultimately claimed the title.

NSW Waratahs

The Waratahs enter 2027 as one of the most-watched sides in the competition after a significant off-season rebuild. Michael Cheika returns as head coach, joined by championship-winning halves Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley, both back in Sydney after stints in Japan.

Key signings include NRL representative Angus Crichton, who crosses codes to join the club, along with Max Burey — named Super Rugby AUS Player of the Tournament a year ago — arriving from the Force. Luke Reimer joins from the Brumbies, and loosehead prop Angus Bell returns from a sabbatical with Ulster.

New South Wales finished eighth last season with a 5-9 record, the lowest-placed Australian side on the ladder. Sid Harvey was named Super Rugby Pacific Rookie of the Year, while Max Jorgensen featured prominently in the Player of the Year standings.

After the opening derby in Canberra, the Waratahs host the Fijian Drua in Sydney before welcoming the Hurricanes and Brumbies to the Harbour City in what amounts to three home games in their first five rounds. Round six takes them north to face the Reds at Suncorp Stadium on March 20, followed by a trip west to face the Force at Perth’s HBF Park on March 27.

Over the 17-round regular season, the Waratahs will play eight home and eight away matches, with the Crusaders, Force, Reds, Blues, and Chiefs all scheduled to visit Sydney. The Waratahs were the last Australian club to win a Super Rugby title against New Zealand opposition, and the combination of Cheika’s return and a bolstered squad has raised expectations heading into the new campaign.