Stan Sport to broadcast new-look Super Rugby Pacific competition
The 2022 Super Rugby Pacific competition will be broadcast ad-free, live and on-demand on Nine’s subscriptions service Stan Sport, kicking off in February next year.
After 2021 rugby season which saw Stan Sport launch with the broadcast of an Australian-only Super Rugby Australia and New Zealand-based competition Super Rugby Aotearoa, the 2022 season brings the two competitions together and also welcomes two teams from Fiji.
Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika will join the five teams from each of Australia and New Zealand for the 91-game competition, with one match per round to be shown on the free-to-air Nine Network.
Fijian Drua is one of two Fiji-based teams joining the competition
Fijian Drua competed in the Australia National Ruby Championship in 2018, and won the title, the team will set up base in Australia for the competition. Meanwhile, Moana Pasifika will play home fixtures primarily in New Zealand.
Stan acting chief executive officer, Martin Kugeler, said: “After a fantastic start for Rugby on Stan Sport, we are looking forward to showcasing the new Super Rugby competition format.
“We saw interest and viewership of Super Rugby significantly increase this year on Stan Sport and Nine, and we expect this new twelve team competition, with the addition of both Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika, to resonate well with fans.
“As Australia’s home of rugby, Stan Sport can’t wait to bring this new look Super Rugby competition to fans next year.”
Stan Sport is available for an additional $10 on top of a subscription to Stan.
Rugby Australia CEO, Andy Marinos, added: “We’re thrilled to confirm the competition model for next year and beyond and want to thank NZR for their hard work and effort along with Fijian and Moana Pasifika for their patience, and the effort that has been put into their proposals.
“I want to thank Mike and Martin at Nine and Stan for their endorsement of the competition as well as Foreign Minister Marise Payne and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their terrific support.
“This is a game-changer for Rugby in the Pacific, and indeed, the rest of the Rugby world. We have seen the brilliant rugby that Fiji play in all formats of the game and their inclusion will make this new competition one of the toughest in the world.”
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Zanda Wilson was a reporter and podcast producer at Mumbrella, specialising in radio reporting. He left Mumbrella in September 2021.
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