Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies play Anzac Day matches in Super Round at new Christchurch stadium
The five-game event from April 24-26 will feature traditional Anzac Day rivalries as the Crusaders christen the roofed 25,000-seat Te Kaha Stadium.
Melbourne hosted three Super Rounds, to mixed reviews, before the Rebels were axed from the competition and the concept was binned last year.
Rugby powerhouse Christchurch has been without a major stadium since the deadly 2011 earthquake rendered Lancaster Park unusable.
The defending champion Crusaders will open proceedings on the Friday night, before annual Queensland Reds vs Blues and Hurricanes vs ACT Brumbies Anzac Day rivalry games on the Saturday.
Two games will be played on the Sunday, with the full fixture, including which of the 11 Super Rugby Pacific teams won't play, still to be finalised.
"The opening event at One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha will be a major milestone in the remarkable comeback story of our city," Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger said.
"And it is great to share that with our friends and neighbours from all across the country, Australia and the Pacific."
AAP
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
18 hours ago
- News.com.au
Wallabies flanker Tom Hooper stands by decision to join English club Exeter
Wallabies flanker Tom Hooper has no regrets about signing with English club Exeter despite it possibly costing him his Australian jersey. Hooper, 24, is set to link with Exeter after the conclusion of the Rugby Championship in early October. Despite the scrapping of the Giteau Law, which limited the number of overseas-based Australians allowed to be picked for Wallabies duty, Rugby Australia chief executive officer Phil Waugh last week said domestic players of 'equal' calibre would still be prioritised. While Hooper – who has spent the past five seasons with the ACT Brumbies – is expected to be back playing in Australia in 2027 ahead of that year's Rugby World Cup, he has jeopardised his Wallabies spot for a significant period by joining Exeter. However, he's still comfortable with the decision, which was made seven months ago. 'I still stand by that decision, because I'm going to go over there and improve as a player,' Hooper said from Johannesburg. where the Wallabies will meet world champions South Africa on Sunday morning (AEST). 'I don't have a crystal ball. Unfortunately, I don't know what's going to happen in my future, but I'll just keep making decisions based on being a good rugby player and hopefully playing in that gold jersey, because I absolutely love it. 'Right now I'm just focusing where my feet are, and right now my feet are in South Africa, and I've got a job to do here. 'Soon enough, we'll be back home. I have a job to do there, and then I have a job to do in the Exeter jersey, and I'll pour every little bit of energy that I can into that team, improve as a player, hopefully improve that club, and then whatever my next journey is, I'll do the exact same thing.' Hooper is in top form after producing a man-of-the-match performance in Australia's 22-12 win over the British and Irish Lions in Sydney earlier this month. It was Hooper's first starting appearance for Australia since the 2023 World Cup. Introducing ourselves to the locals ðŸ�¾ NEXT MATCH 🆚 Springboks ðŸ—'ï¸� Sunday August 17 | 1:10am AEST ðŸ�Ÿï¸� Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg ðŸ'° @StanSportAU #Wallabies — Wallabies (@wallabies) August 11, 2025 'It was a huge moment,' Hooper said. 'Watching back at the game. I think there was a few other guys that were probably more deserving. They were amazing, but it was definitely a team effort. 'I know it sounds clichéd, but it was just good for me to get back in that starting jersey. It's the first time I've been back there since the World Cup. 'It's been a long road on field and off field. It was pretty special to be out there, and just to get the win, more than anything. 'It was great to get the win with the guys and be a part of a change room that had a great vibe about it.' It's a 'vibe' the Wallabies have brought with them to South Africa. 'You saw throughout that Test series (against the Lions), we were in the business of getting better, and we're just going to continue to strive to do that,' Hooper said. 'It's really nice and calm among the group, but we know we've got a lot to take on board mentally, and then from there, we're just physically working.'

ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies play Anzac Day matches in Super Round at new Christchurch stadium
New Zealand will host Super Rugby Pacific's reborn Super Round for the first time in what will serve as a house-warming party for Christchurch's new stadium. The five-game event from April 24-26 will feature traditional Anzac Day rivalries as the Crusaders christen the roofed 25,000-seat Te Kaha Stadium. Melbourne hosted three Super Rounds, to mixed reviews, before the Rebels were axed from the competition and the concept was binned last year. Rugby powerhouse Christchurch has been without a major stadium since the deadly 2011 earthquake rendered Lancaster Park unusable. The defending champion Crusaders will open proceedings on the Friday night, before annual Queensland Reds vs Blues and Hurricanes vs ACT Brumbies Anzac Day rivalry games on the Saturday. Two games will be played on the Sunday, with the full fixture, including which of the 11 Super Rugby Pacific teams won't play, still to be finalised. "The opening event at One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha will be a major milestone in the remarkable comeback story of our city," Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger said. "And it is great to share that with our friends and neighbours from all across the country, Australia and the Pacific." AAP

The Australian
2 days ago
- The Australian
Charlotte Caslick ruled out of Women's Rugby World Cup squad
Sevens queen Charlotte Caslick's Women's Rugby World Cup dream is over after she was replaced in the Wallaroos squad by Manu'a Moleka. Caslick had been named in Australia's 32-player squad despite undergoing surgery after suffering an ankle injury in the Wallaroos' loss to New Zealand in Wellington last month. It was only last week that the Olympic gold medallist said she hoped to be available for Australia's second World Cup game against the USA on August 31. 'When (the injury) happened, I knew it would be touch and go, and the timeframe is probably a little bit tighter than I would have hoped it would be, but I'm doing what I can to get it (her ankle) as best as I can for some stage of the tournament,' she said. However, Caslick won't fly with the squad to England on Monday afternoon after the decision was made for her to remain in Australia to continue an 'accelerated rehabilitation program', with the uncapped Moleka – the younger sister of squad member Faitala Moleka – to take her place. Charlotte Caslick is out of Australia's Women's Rugby World Cup squad. Picture:Caslick's only chance of joining the Wallaroos squad later in tournament would be as an injury replacement player should it be required. Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said the squad was 'really disappointed to lose Charlotte so close to the World Cup'. 'She has shown great commitment to the XVs program and Wallaroos this year,' Yapp said. 'Charlotte's timeline to get back for our pool matches has changed and following medical advice, the decision was made to allow her to continue on an accelerated recovery program, where she could be available as an injury replacement should we require a player later in the tournament. 'We're really fortunate and excited that Manu'a can join us for the World Cup. Manu'a has been part of the touring squad since the start of the international Test season and thoroughly deserves her opportunity to join us.' The Wallaroos' opening World Cup match is on August 23 against Samoa in Salford. Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde