Super Rugby Pacific 2025

[Braveheart81]

No, I don't think there's anything official from Rugby Australia.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

We do have to admit that the Brumbies only putting out one crowd figure is allowing Super Rugby to have a higher number. Likely there have been two games with 7-8k attendance.

Going through the years on Aus Stadium for the Force is grim since their return to Super Rugby. Pulled bigger crowds in Global Rapid Rugby by about 5k.

Tahs have also benefited from a new stadium which is a good one. You hear people talk about it being a better experience.

 

[Tazzmania]

The Force presented a very different match day package for Global Rapid Rugby.

The tickets were dirt cheap for GA at around $10 and the match was only part of the "event", with complimentary fireworks and entertainment making it an event rather than just a rugby match, which enabled them to attract more "family" or "friends" of rugby fans for the match.

With the escalation cost of "wages" for the Super Rugby addition of The Force, including players and allied staff that sort of package is no longer feasible.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Twiggy can't steal some demo gear from the mines and put on a complimentary show for the people?

 

[LeCheese]

It really feels like a huge miss to not be able to turn on some Super Rugby right now...

 

[PhilClinton]

2025 seems to be the year of the anything goes lineout across the whole comp.

I have a bad feeling that NH refs are going to destroy our hookers for crooked throws. Is the non straight rule for non contested lines outs being implemented globally or just in SRP (Super Rugby Pacific)?

I’ve seen some absolutely shocking lineouts being thrown and the refs just aren’t calling it. I understand they want to speed up the game, but it’s a core mechanism of rugby and is only going to hurt the skill set down the track.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

100%

The refs are just letting the line out go. Every Hooker steps across as well.

For the sake of speed of game which I support we are letting aspects degrade which isn’t the way to do it.

 

[KOB1987]

They are probably punting the new 'not competing' rule sometimes depending on field position.

 

[Dan54]

2025 seems to be the year of the anything goes lineout across the whole comp.much protection you can and can't give halbacks

I have a bad feeling that NH refs are going to destroy our hookers for crooked throws. Is the non straight rule for non contested lines outs being implemented globally or just in SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) (Super Rugby Pacific)?

I’ve seen some absolutely shocking lineouts being thrown and the refs just aren’t calling it. I understand they want to speed up the game, but it’s a core mechanism of rugby and is only going to hurt the skill set down the track.

I think it's gobal now. The one that I think we may find will effect things is how much protection you can give halfbacks. If we don't use pillars on ball SH teams win, our halbacks may get a surprise.

 

[PhilClinton]

Yeh I have a real issue with free pass that hookers are getting on attacking lineouts in general to setup mauls. That whole situation is already so heavily skewed towards the attacking side and now the hooker doesn’t even have to be able to throw the ball in properly. At least previously teams with a dodgy hooker sometimes didn’t bother with many maul setups.

Nothing will be done though until a NH team loses a RWC final to a maul try and then suddenly it’ll be the most heavily officiated attacking phase on the field.

 

[Adam84]

Taking players out of play off the ball, holding defenders back or cleaning out players well past the ruck to open space around the ruck is a massive issue this year, a tactic used well by some of the kiwi teams given the lax officiating around it.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

The Playoff Picture:

 

[Sully]

It's not just crooked throws, there are players moving before the ball leaves the thrower's hand, multiple halfbacks and players running up the tunnel to change positions. I'm no ref, but I believe all these are against the laws of the game.

 

[Dan54]

Can I just point out fellas, I watch a bit of NH rugby, and they say similar things about reffing calls etc. There lieouts look as messy as ours .Hell I read in here that all NZ refs are incompetent, in NZ sites that Aus refs are etc. We think our players will suffer with NH refs and vice versa, it will all work out. I think at end of day, every ref looks at different things, NH and SH, and I think all players have to look at how their ref of day refs and react to that. I genuinely get a little worried when we play different interpretations of laws (ie halfback protection etc), but it's always been so, and I sure players will as always adapt. Even knocks to head etc are really treated pretty similar in both hemispheres, I have heard commentator up there saying they think a shot is illegal or otherwise, and mostly I think they are similar rulings.

 

[Tomikin]

I think most of the Australian refs have been pretty inconsistent this year as well. So no, it's not just the Kiwis. The standard and consistency of refs this year have been poor. This isn't between games; this is during a game. They blow a pen, then the same thing happens, and they don't blow it.

 

[Derpus]

It won't all work out because people will stop watching. How many leagues around the world are on their arse?

 

[Dan54]

Yep, but seems more people are watching it. I understand you have been death riding the comp for a few years for some reason Derps.
Also notice you keep watching it.
Also how many are on their arse? Depends whether you take your figure oss the few people who go on the net, or talk to people I think.

 

[PhilClinton]

Yep, but seems more people are watching it. I understand you have been death riding the comp for a few years for some reason Derps.
Also notice you keep watching it.
Also how many are on their arse? Depends whether you take your figure oss the few people who go on the net, or talk to people I think.

I do feel like we might have a bit of a false dawn happening regarding viewers (not sure if that’s the right term).

With the BIL tour this year it would be natural for rugby to have an uptick in interest.

The unfortunate reality we have is rugby in Oz is so heavily dependent on the Wallabies winning that we are running into dead ends with SRP (Super Rugby Pacific). I think most people expect the BIL to win the series, but if the Wallabies get totally decimated or swept, I can nearly guarantee SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) views will be well down in 2026.

Same goes for the RWC. Anything less than semi finals at our home RWC and the optics are going to be terrible, even if we are ranked outside the top 4 in the world.

 

[Lindommer]

SRP2025 run home

Chiefs 32 Force, Canes, Saders, bye, Moana, Clan
Saders 32 Clan, bye, Chiefs, Tahs, Clan, Brumbies
Brumbies 28 Canes, Tahs, Force, Reds, bye, Saders
Reds 23 Blues, Drua, Tahs, Brumbies, Canes, Drua
Force 22 Chiefs, Blues, Brumbies, Drua, Tahs, bye
Tahs 21 bye, Brumbies, Reds, Saders, Force, Blues
Canes 18 Brumbies, Chiefs, bye, Clan, Reds, Moana
Blues 17 Reds, Force, Drua, Moana, bye, Tahs
Clan 17 Saders, Moana, bye, Canes, Saders, Chiefs
Moana 15 Drua, Clan, bye, Blues, Chiefs, Canes
Drua 11 Moana, Reds, Blues, Force, bye, Reds

Coupla points:

1. The top two spots are well in play with the Brumbies having only one away game for the rest of the year, and it's in Oz at that. If they're good enough to beat the Saders and Reds in Canberra they'll be in the top two.

2. If the Tahs can't snag one away win they'll miss the finals. A win against the Blues in Auckland could prove vital for a handful of teams immediately above them.

3. One away win for the Force (preferably the Blues) alongside all home wins and they're in.

4. The Reds look like they're prime spoilers with crucial matches against, Blues, Tahs, Brumbies and Canes.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

A win against the Blues in Auckland could prove vital

One away win for the Force (preferably the Blues)