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Super Rugby Aupiki expansion gains momentum for 2027
Sport Nation • July 28th, 2026 1:58 pm
Matatu v Blues in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition | Photo: John Davidson/Photosport
Super Rugby Aupiki could be heading for expansion as early as 2027, with New Zealand Rugby in regular talks with Rugby Australia about creating a bigger competition window and more trans-Tasman crossover.
New Zealand Rugby’s Head of Women's High Performance Hannah Porter said both unions are aligned on the future of the competition, with discussions already underway around what the next two years could look like.
“At the moment we are talking weekly about what 2027 will look like and what 2028 will look like,” she told Sport Nation Mornings.
“We've always had the intention that we want to grow this competition into a bigger window and provide more games.”
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A full crossover with Australian teams remains the long-term goal, but Porter said there are still factors to work through before that model can be rolled out.
“There is just a little bit of a balancing act from a performance point of view, it would be really interesting to see what happens this weekend with the Blues and the Waratahs to see how that game plays out.
“And also just balancing the cost perspective of a full crossover with Aussie.
“As to how quickly we can get there, we are working as fast as we can on that, but we are really aligned with Rugby Australia in regards to timelines and how we can roll that out.”
The potential expansion comes after a year of growth for Super Rugby Aupiki, with Porter pointing to improvements in the quality and physicality of the competition as signs it is ready for the next step.
“I think there's been a real shift in one skill set, the ability to hold ball for longer periods of time. In the women's game naturally there's less kicking so teams do have to be able to play for longer periods.
Hurricanes Poua Ayesha Leti-I’iga during Chiefs Manawa vs Hurricanes Poua | Photo: Photosport
“Then second to that is just the physicality that some of these teams are bringing which I think is actually the biggest shift from last season.
“The clubs are now in their fourth year of this competition. Everyone was trying to find their feet in the first couple of years as to kind of where it sat and the resource that needed to go into it.”
Changes to the competition model have also helped raise standards, with teams now together for the duration of the competition rather than only entering campaign mode late in the week.
“We made a shift from last year which was they were in campaign from Thursday to Sunday and now they're in campaign for the entire competition.
“So little shifts within the model are certainly allowing those teams to have more time together and I think you've seen that on the field.”
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Porter said engagement has grown alongside the on-field product, with stronger ratings and bigger crowds across the competition.
“Our ratings have gone up and obviously what you would have seen is more people in the grounds watching the games and bums on seats, which is really pleasing.
“All the metrics are going up and I think that's credit to the product that people are putting out in the field.”
She said the competition had also benefited from being given its own window this year, away from Super Rugby Pacific, allowing it to attract its own audience and broadcast at prime times.
Listen to the full interview below:
