SANZAR, Rugby Australia (RA) and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) have today announced the draw for the upcoming 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, with the Melbourne Rebels to launch their new campaign against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday, February 25.
The Rebels will host seven matches at AAMI Park, including the return of Super Round in Round 2, which will see all 12 teams converge on Melbourne for a three-day rugby extravaganza from March 3 to 5.
Among the highlights for the new season is a Round 3 long-weekend Friday night clash against Weary Dunlop rivals, the Waratahs, an Easter Saturday battle with the Blues and a prized ANZAC weekend fixture against the Crusaders.
Melbourne Rebels CEO, Baden Stephenson, said he was excited about the new season ahead.
“It’s great to have the draw finalised in what will be an exciting season for our Club, members, sponsors, fans and the wider Victorian rugby community,” said Stephenson.
“On the field, I’m looking forward to seeing our Club continue to build on the strong momentum we generated at the backend of last season and play a brand of rugby that will excite and inspire our fans. Off the field our Club is driven to be inclusive and progressive in everything we do.
“As we saw with this month’s Bledisloe sell-out at Marvel Stadium, there’s such a strong rugby following here in Melbourne, so it is brilliant that our proud city has been chosen to host Super Round yet again.
“Our Club can’t wait to bring the world’s best players and iconic teams to the sporting capital while also showcasing some special our double headers with our Super W team.
“We’re excited to host another game against the Crusaders after last year’s ANZAC success and can’t wait to play Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika away for the first time in Rebels history. “Our Sunday afternoon match against the Brumbies in Round 12 strategic and focused on families to come and enjoy watching the Rebels at AAMI Park, which is fantastic.”
After beginning the Club’s 14th Super Rugby campaign out West, the Rebels will enjoy back-to-back home matches against the Hurricanes and Waratahs, before facing the Chiefs in New Zealand for the first time since 2016.
The Rebels will then play their first of three free-to-air games when they lock horns with the Reds in Melbourne.
Round 6 will provide a historic moment for the Rebels, when the Club travels to Fiji for the first time in our Super Rugby history when we clash with the Fijian Drua on Saturday, April 1st.
Following a Round 8 bye, the Rebels will welcome Kiwi heavyweights, the Crusaders, to AAMI Park before playing Moana Pasifika away for the first time in Club history.
After a family-friendly Sunday afternoon Round 12 clash with the Brumbies back at the Stockade, the Rebels face two straight games on the road against the Waratahs and the Highlanders, before hosting the Western Force in Round 14.
The Melbourne Rebels will close out the regular season with a Friday night clash against the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday, June 2.
The top eight at the end of the regular season will then compete in a three-week Final series, kicking off on June 10. Overall, the Rebels will play five Friday night games, eight Saturday night games, and one Sunday afternoon game with twelve matches broadcast exclusively live and on-demand on Stan Sports, while another three will be shown live on 9Gem.
