The Crusaders will once again take the field in Melbourne for an action-packed weekend of Super Rugby with ‘Super Round Melbourne 2023’.
The showcase weekend is returning to AAMI Park from Friday 3 March through to Sunday 5 March 2023. All 12 Super Rugby Pacific teams will be on show for what will be Round Two of the regular season.
Scott Robertson, Crusaders Head Coach, said the team was excited to return to AAMI Park as defending champions for a huge weekend of sport.
“The Super Round in Melbourne is an epic showcase of the high level of competition Super Rugby offers fans and we can’t wait to get to Melbourne to be part of this great occasion,” Robertson said.
“The packed double-header schedule is exciting for fans and the hype definitely has an effect on the players as well. Bring on March 2023.”
AAMI Park, home of the Melbourne Rebels, is regarded worldwide as one of the best stadiums to watch Rugby Union located in the heart of Melbourne.
Double-headers are scheduled across the board with the Crusaders kicking off the weekend against the Highlanders at 8pm NZDT on Friday (6pm AEDT), followed by hometown team the Melbourne Rebels hosting the Hurricanes at 10.10pm NZDT on Friday (8.10pm AEDT).
The second iteration of Super Round Melbourne is expected to be more than just rugby, with event organisers planning additional music, entertainment, food offerings and interactive experiences to be held around AAMI Park.
Activations celebrating the cultures that make up the Super Rugby Pacific competition will be held across the three days, with a record number of South Pacific fans expected to travel to Melbourne to experience a unique weekend of rugby.
Brendan Morris, SANZAAR CEO, said based on last year’s success, “it is fantastic [that] we are heading to Melbourne once again for Super Round”.
“The concept of having all the matches at one venue, in one city, over a single weekend is a big attraction for the tournament and is appealing to our fans,” Morris said.
“We are building on the lessons of last year to deliver an even bigger Super Round in [2023]. The teams and players are…all enthusiastically behind the event which showcases some of the best rugby players in the world, and all that is good about rugby in the Pacific.”
The first-ever Super Round on 2022 attracted more than 30,000 fans from across Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands to AAMI Park over the ANZAC weekend.
Organisers are expecting bigger crowds in 2023 with Super Round Melbourne scheduled before the start of the 2023 AFL and NRL seasons and with New Zealand borders open. The 2022 edition recorded wins to the Crusaders, Chiefs, Blues, Hurricanes and Brumbies.
Geoff Jones, TEG CEO, said Super Round Melbourne 2023 would be bigger and better than ever before.
“Super Round Melbourne is quickly establishing itself as one of the pinnacle rugby events on the sporting calendar. To bring all 12 teams to Melbourne is an incredibly unique opportunity for fans to see their heroes in one place over one weekend,” Jones said.
“We look forward to creating a hugely exciting festival of rugby and welcome fans from across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. This weekend will showcase the very best of Super Rugby Pacific.
“We’re delighted to bring Super Round Melbourne back for the second year with the support of the Victorian Government and Visit Victoria.”
Super Round 2023 Match Schedule
Friday 3 March 2023
Crusaders v Highlanders, 6.00pm AEDT / 8.00pm NZDT
Melbourne Rebels v Hurricanes, 8.10pm AEDT / 10.10 pm NZDT
Saturday 4 March 2023
Moana Pasifika v Chiefs, 5.05pm AEDT / 7.05PM NZDT
Fijian Drua v Waratahs, 7.45pm AEDT / 9.45PM NZDT
Sunday 5 March 2023
Blues v Brumbies, 2.00pm AEDT / 4.00pm NZDT
Force v Reds, 4.30pm AEDT / 6.30pm NZDT