Super Rugby Pacific is set for exciting changes in 2025, with organizers announcing an extended 16-round regular season and a more competitive finals structure. 

To accommodate the additional round of action, the new season will kick off Feb. 14, a week earlier than in previous years. 

The tournament also will introduce Sunday afternoon matches, with three such fixtures already scheduled, and the potential for more in future seasons to offer family-friendly viewing options.

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With the Melbourne Rebels no longer in the competition, 11 teams will participate in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific: ACT Brumbies, Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Fijian Drua, Highlanders, Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, and Western Force. 

Each team will play 14 regular-season matches, including seven home and seven away games and two byes. The schedule will focus on rivalry matchups, with each team playing four opponents twice and the remaining six once.

One of the key changes is in the finals series. 

The top six teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the finals, following a new format. 

In Week 1, the first round of qualifying finals will see teams seeded 1-6, with the top-ranked teams hosting. 

The three winners will move on to the semifinals, along with a "lucky loser" — the highest-seeded team that lost in the first round. This team will drop one seed for the semifinal matchups, where the higher-seeded teams will host again. 

The grand final will feature the two winning semifinalists, with the top-seeded team earning the right to host.

Super Rugby Pacific also has welcomed a new chief executive, Jack Mesley, who took the role in July. He expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season, highlighting the revamped structure and new features as key improvements designed with fans in mind. 

Mesley particularly emphasized the introduction of Sunday matches and the more dynamic finals format, which aim to create a more engaging and competitive experience for both players and supporters.

“We’re thrilled to reveal the revamped structure, some new features and the start date for the next season of Super Rugby Pacific,” he said. “The fans are always front of mind, and while the full draw will be released soon, we wanted to give them an early insight into what they can look forward to in 2025.

“The introduction of three Sunday afternoon fixtures will make it easier for families to experience the excitement of the Super Rugby Pacific, and we can look to build on that offering in future seasons.

“We’re particularly excited about the new Finals Series, which is designed to produce highly competitive matchups while still rewarding the teams that finish at the top of the table.”