Super Rugby Pacific comes together for Anzac Weekend Round
- Sanzaar Media
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
The Super Rugby Pacific community will unite this weekend to commemorate the Anzac spirit and to honour those who have served and continue to serve our nations.
Anzac Weekend Round is an opportunity for all in our game to reflect on and pay tribute to the selflessness, courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women.
All matches in Round 11 will feature traditional pre-game ceremonies and a number of teams will don specially designed jerseys to mark the occasion.
History will be made on Anzac Day, Friday 25 April, as the Chiefs welcome the Western Force to a sold-out Bay Oval in Tauranga for the first-ever Super Rugby game played at the venue.
The second game on Anzac Day will see the Queensland Reds and Blues compete for the newly unveiled Sellars Dixon Medal at Suncorp Stadium.
The medal honours two-Test All Black George Sellars and Queensland five-eighth William Dixon, who faced off on the rugby field in 1910 and died within days of each other on the Western Front in 1917.
On Saturday Moana Pasifika will take on the Fijian Drua at North Harbour Stadium, while paying tribute to the servicemen and women of the wider Pacific region.
The Highlanders will don their Anzac Jersey for their showdown with the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium and invite fans onto the field after the final whistle.
The weekend will conclude with the ACT Brumbies, wearing a jersey featuring Australian Navy flagship HMAS Canberra, hosting the Hurricanes at GIO Stadium.
The two teams will compete for the inaugural Captain Shout Cup, named in recognition of Captain Alfred John Shout, who served both New Zealand and Australia, took part in the Gallipoli campaign and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Lone Pine.
The game day in Canberra will begin with two curtain-raisers between the Army and Air Force men’s and women’s sides, with all former and current Australian Defence Force personnel to receive free entry prior to 4.15pm AEST.
Fixtures
Friday
Chiefs v Force, 5.05pm AEST/7.05pm NZST @ Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Reds v Blues, 7.35pm AEST/9.35pm NZST @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday
Moana Pasifika v Fijian Drua, 2.35pm AEST/4.35pm NZST @ North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Highlanders v Crusaders, 5.05pm AEST/7.05pm NZST @ Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Brumbies v Hurricanes, 7.35pm AEST/9.35pm NZST @ GIO Stadium, Canberra
There's an all-star cast of Rugby superstars chasing Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea as the voting for Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year goes down to the wire.
The likes of Damian McKenzie, Carlo Tizzano and Langi Gleeson scored big for their respective sides during an intense round of action.
In 2025, Super Rugby Pacific will crown the competition's most outstanding player with the presentation of the inaugural Player of the Year Award.
The captains and head coaches of both teams nominate their top three players from the opposing team each week, allocating three votes, two votes, and one vote, respectively.
Here is how they voted
Crusaders v Blues
5 - Josh Beehre (BLU), Fletcher Newell (CRU)
4 - Hoskins Sotutu (BLU), Christian Lio-Willie (CRU)
3 - Beauden Barrett (BLU)
2 - Scott Barrett (CRU)
1 - Noah Hotham (CRU)
Fijian Drua v NSW Waratahs
6 - Langi Gleeson (WAR), Etonia Waqa (DRU)
4 - Motikiai Murray (DRU)
3 - Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (WAR)
2 - Lalakai Foketi (WAR), Ponipate Loganimasi (DRU)
1 - Hugh Sinclair (WAR)
Moana Pasifika v ACT Brumbies
6 - Rob Valetini (BRU)
5 - Sione Havili Talitui (MOA)
3 - Miracle Faiʻilagi (MOA)
2 - Pepesana Patafilo (MOA), Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa (MOA), Tom Wright (BRU), Allan Alaalatoa (BRU)
1 - Tom Hooper (BRU), Andy Muirhead (BRU)
Chiefs v Hurricanes
6 - Damian McKenzie (CHI)
4 - Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (HIG), Fabian Holland (HIG)
3 - Veveni Lasaqa (HIG)
2 - Shaun Stevenson (CHI), Samipeni Finau (CHI)
1 - Aidan Ross (CHI), Quinn Tupaea (CHI), Timoci Tavatavanawai (HIG)
Western Force v Hurricanes
4 - Carlo Tizzano (FOR), Ben Donaldson (FOR)
3 - Callum Harkin (HUR), Cam Roigard (HUR), Harry Potter (FOR)
2 - Du'Plessis Kirifi (HUR), Billy Proctor (HUR), Fatafehi Fineanganofo (HUR)
1 - Mac Grealy (FOR)
Super Rugby Pacific POTY Ladder
24 - Ardie Savea (MOA)
23 - Carlo Tizzano (FOR), Timoci Tavatavanawai (HIG)
22 - Damian McKenzie (CHI), Tom Hooper (BRU)
21 - Langi Gleeson (WAR)
18 - Cam Roigard (HUR)
Comments