Super Rugby Aupiki

Women's rugby union competition in NZ

For the Australian competition, see Super Rugby Women's.

Super Rugby AupikiCurrent season, competition or edition:
2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season

Sport| Rugby union
Founded| 2022; 3 years ago (2022)
First season| 2022
No. of teams| 4
Country| New Zealand
Most recent
champion(s)| Blues Women
(2025)
Most titles| Blues Women (2 titles)
Broadcaster(s)| Sky
Related
competitions| Super Rugby Women's
Farah Palmer Cup
Official website| superrugby.co.nz

Super Rugby Aupiki is a professional women's rugby union club competition in New Zealand. Its inaugural season was held in March 2022. It is a stepping stone between the Farah Palmer Cup and the Black Ferns. Aupiki translates as ‘the ascent to the upper-most realm’.[1][2][3][4]

## Format

[edit]

In 2022, the four teams were supposed to have three regular season matches with one home and away game, and one Super Round fixture. The top two teams at the end of the three rounds would contest the final.[5][6][7] The competition was reformatted as a round robin fixture because of the impact of COVID-19. All the squads were strongly affected with player isolations and COVID-19 cases. The inaugural champion was crowned based on their competition points after the final round.[8]

The 2023 season was played over a period of five weeks with ten games in total. Each team played three regular season matches and two play-off matches.[9]

In 2024, the competition was extended from three regular season matches and two play-off matches to a complete home and away round-robin format, followed by a final. This meant that each of the four teams played at least six games during the regular season - three at home and three away. The two highest ranked teams at the end of the regular season contested the final at the home ground of the highest placed team. The new competition format resulted in a total of thirteen matches played over a seven-week period.[10]

The season fixtures for the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season were released on 20 November 2024, consisting of six rounds and a grand final to decide the season champions. The 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki champions will play the champions of the Australian Super Rugby competition, Super Rugby Women's, at the end of the season. This new competition is called the Super Rugby Champions Final.[11][12][13] It will be the first edition of the new competition.

## History

[edit]

### 2022

[edit]

The Chiefs Manawa won the inaugural title of the 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki season. They defeated the Blues Women 35–0 in the final round of the competition.[14][15][16][17]

### 2023

[edit]

Matatū were crowned 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki champions after beating Chiefs Manawa 33–31 in a hard-fought match.[18][19] Matatū won their first title and also handed defending champions, Chiefs Manawa, their first-ever loss in the competition.[18][19]

### 2024

[edit]

The 2024 tournament was won by Blues Women, who defeated Chiefs Manawa 24–18 in the final in Auckland, earning them their first Super Rugby Aupiki title.[20]

## Teams

[edit]

There are four teams that compete in the competition. The three teams based in the north are aligned with their Super Rugby franchises, namely the Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes. The southern team, Matatū, is governed by the Crusaders and also includes the Highlanders region.[21][22][3]

Blues Women

Chiefs Manawa

Matatū

Hurricanes Poua

class=notpageimage|

Location of Super Rugby Aupiki teams

Team  | Coach  | City  | Stadium  | Capacity  | First season

|
|
|
|
|

Blues Women | Willie Walker | Auckland, Auckland Region | Eden Park | 50,000  | 2022
Chiefs Manawa | Crystal Kaua | Hamilton, Waikato | FMG Stadium Waikato | 25,800  | 2022
Hurricanes Poua | Victoria Grant | Wellington, Wellington Region | Sky Stadium | 34,500  | 2022
Matatū | Blair Baxter | Christchurch, Canterbury | Apollo Projects Stadium | 17,600  | 2022

## Champions

[edit]

The following sides have won Super Rugby Aupiki titles.

Season  | Champions  | Final  | Runners-up

|
|
|

2022 | Chiefs Manawa | No final[a] | Hurricanes Poua
2023 | Matatū | 33–31  | Chiefs Manawa
2024 | Blues Women | 24–18  | Chiefs Manawa
2025 | Blues Women | 26–19  | Matatū

## Players

[edit]

Each team contracts 28-players for the Super Rugby Aupiki season.[23] All players will be paid for participating within the tournament, with all players being on professional or semi-professional contracts.[21]

## Television

[edit]

Matches in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition are televised by Sky Sport in New Zealand.[23]

## See also

[edit]

* New Zealand portal
* Sports portal

* New Zealand women's national rugby union team
* New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team
* Farah Palmer Cup
* Super W

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ A Round-robin tournament determined the final standings.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Green light for Super Rugby Aupiki". allblacks.com. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
2. ^ "Green light for Super Rugby Aupiki". superrugby.co.nz. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
3. ^ a b "Super Rugby Aupiki: New Zealand Rugby announces new four-team women's competition". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
4. ^ "Sky is 100% behind Super Rugby Aupiki - Sky". www.sky.co.nz. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
5. ^ McLeod, Alex (17 January 2022). "Super Rugby Aupiki draw released for inaugural 2022 season". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
6. ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki set to light up rugby landscape in March". superrugby.co.nz. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
7. ^ "New Super Rugby Aupiki competition to feature a Super Round". Stuff. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
8. ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki update". superrugby.co.nz. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
9. ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki set to entertain in 2023". allblacks.com. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
10. ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki 2024 format confirmed". New Zealand Rugby (Press release). 10 October 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
11. ^ Williamson, Nathan (20 November 2024). "Crossover trans-Tasman Final confirmed as 2025 Super Rugby Women's Draw announced". Rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024.
12. ^ Meikle, Hayden (21 November 2024). "Transtasman final for women's teams". Otago Daily Times. Allied Press. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
13. ^ Lester, Ned (20 November 2024). "Super Rugby Aupiki and Super W champions set to square off in 2025". Rugbypass. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024.
14. ^ Chapman, Grant (20 March 2022). "Super Rugby Aupiki: Chiefs Manawa dominate Blues to stay unbeaten, claim inaugural championship". Newshub. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
15. ^ "Chiefs Manawa crowned Sky Super Rugby Aupiki champs". superrugby.co.nz. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
16. ^ Reive, Christopher (20 March 2022). "Super Rugby Aupiki: Chiefs storm away to claim inaugural title". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
17. ^ Pearson, Joseph (20 March 2022). "Chiefs Manawa overwhelm gallant Blues in decider to win first Super Rugby Aupiki title". Stuff. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
18. ^ a b Chapman, Grant (25 March 2023). "Super Rugby Aupiki: Matatū shock defending champions Chiefs Manawa to snatch women's crown". Newshub. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
19. ^ a b Reive, Christopher (25 March 2023). "Matatū win Aupiki final in dramatic fashion". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
20. ^ "Blues storm home with late show to beat Chiefs Manawa for first Super Rugby Aupiki title". Stuff. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
21. ^ a b "Super Rugby Aupiki: Players will be paid in NZ Rugby's new elite women's competition". Stuff. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
22. ^ "South Island Women's team named for Super Rugby Aupiki". Super Rugby NZ. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
23. ^ a b "Green light for Super Rugby Aupiki". SANZAAR. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Super Rugby Aupiki

* NZR
* Super Rugby
* Super Rugby Women's (AUS)
* Farah Palmer Cup

Teams|

* Blues Women
* Chiefs Manawa
* Hurricanes Poua
* Matatū

Seasons|

* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Champions Final|

* 2025

* Women's rugby union
* Category

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in New Zealand

Governing body|

* New Zealand Rugby

National teams|

| Men's|

* New Zealand
* Sevens
* U-20
* Schoolboys
* Defunct: U-21
* U-19

|

Women's|

* New Zealand
* Sevens

Other notable teams|

* All Blacks XV
* Black Ferns XV
* Barbarians
* Cavaliers
* Classic All Blacks
* Heartland XV
* Māori All Blacks

Competitions|

* Super Rugby
* Super Rugby Aupiki
* National Provincial Championship
* Heartland Championship
* Meads Cup
* Lochore Cup
* Ranfurly Shield
* Hanan Shield
* New Zealand Sevens
* New Zealand Women's Sevens
* National Sevens
* Farah Palmer Cup
* National First XV Championship
* North vs South rugby union match
* The Rugby Championship

Related articles|

* International players
* International player records
* International tours and series
* New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup
* History of rugby union in New Zealand
* Structure of rugby union in New Zealand
* List of New Zealand rugby union teams
* Racism in New Zealand rugby union
* New Zealand Rugby Museum
* Oceania Rugby
* The Rugby Channel

Provincial unions|

| North Island|

* Auckland
* Bay of Plenty
* Counties-Manukau
* East Coast
* Hawke's Bay
* Horowhenua-Kapiti
* King Country
* Manawatu
* North Harbour
* Northland
* Poverty Bay
* Taranaki
* Thames Valley
* Waikato
* Wairarapa Bush
* Wanganui
* Wellington

|

South Island|

* Buller
* Canterbury
* Mid-Canterbury
* North Otago
* Otago
* South Canterbury
* Southland
* Tasman
* West Coast

* v
* t
* e

Women's rugby union

Anchor articles|

* International rugby union
* List of rugby sevens competitions
* International rugby results summary

International union
competitions|

| Global|

* Rugby World Cup
* WXV

|

Regional|

* Africa Championship
* Asia Championship
* North America Championship
* South America Championship
* Europe Championship
* Oceania Championship
* Six Nations

Cross-Regional|

* Pacific Four Series

Defunct|

* Canada Cup (1993–2005)
* Women's Nations Cup (2008–13)
* Women's Rugby Super Series (2015–19)

Domestic union
competitions|

* Élite 1 (FRA)
* Premiership Women's Rugby (ENG)
* Super Rugby Aupiki (NZL)
* Super Rugby Women's (AUS)
* IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series (IRL)
* Women's Elite Rugby (USA)
* Women's Premier League (USA)
* Premier Rugby Sevens (USA)
* Serie A Elite (ITA)
* Serie A (ITA)
* Scottish Women's Premiership (SCO)
* Celtic Challenge (IRL, SCO, WAL)
* Women's Premier Division (ZAR)
* Liga Iberdrola (ESP)

International 7s
competitions|

| Global|

* Women's SVNS
* Rugby World Cup Sevens
* Rugby sevens at the Summer Olympics
* World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series

|

Regional|

* Africa Women's Sevens
* Asia Rugby Women's Sevens Series
* Oceania Women's Sevens
* RAN Women's Sevens
* Rugby Europe Women's Sevens
* Sudamérica Rugby Women's Sevens
* Commonwealth Games
* Pan American Games

Historical
firsts|

| First international match|

* 1982 Netherlands v France (women's rugby union match)

|

First international tournament|

* 1988 Women's Rugby European Cup

First cross-continental tournament|

* RugbyFest 1990

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