Rugby: Super Rugby returning to New Plymouth after four-year absence

Photo by John Velvin.

Super Rugby will return to New Plymouth in 2027 after a four-year absence from Stadium Taranaki.

The Chiefs will play the Hurricanes at the venue on Easter Sunday, March 28, in what will be the first Super Rugby match in the city since 2023.

Despite Taranaki’s strong rugby following and the region supplying players to both franchises, New Plymouth has been overlooked for Super Rugby fixtures in recent seasons.

The 2027 match will end that drought and will be the biggest rugby fixture staged at Stadium Taranaki since its redevelopment.

It will be the Hurricanes’ 13th Super Rugby match in New Plymouth and the Chiefs’ ninth, underlining how infrequently either franchise has played in the city despite both having strong links to Taranaki.

Chiefs chief executive Simon Graafhuis said the franchise was excited to return.

“We are so excited to be heading back to Taranaki, especially to take such a big NZ derby,” he said.

“The rivalry amongst fans in Taranaki is huge, but we know our Gallagher Chiefs supporters will get behind the boys and make this one of the games of the year.”

New Plymouth District Council manager venues and events Chade Julie acknowledged there had been demand for top-level rugby to return to the city.

“We love our rugby here. We’ve been hearing it everywhere, at games, events and around town. People want to see top-level rugby at the stadium, and Chiefs versus Hurricanes is the match-up they’ve been asking for,” he said.

“This will be the biggest game held at the venue since its redevelopment.”

While Taranaki was traditionally part of the Hurricanes’ catchment, the province switched its Super Rugby allegiance to the Chiefs in 2013.

However, neither franchise has made New Plymouth a regular stop in recent years, with the city missing out entirely since 2023.

Taranaki Rugby chief executive Jimmy Fastier described the Chiefs-Hurricanes fixture as the match local supporters had been waiting for.

“The Gallagher Chiefs v Hurricanes – this is the unmissable fixture that Taranaki fans have been waiting for,” he said.

“Stadium Taranaki, the best regional sports venue in the country, will be hosting the Super Rugby Pacific grand final rematch, with a strong All Blacks and Yarrows Taranaki Bulls flavour running through both squads.”

The match has been secured through Taranaki Rugby and NPDC, with funding provided through Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki’s New Plymouth Major Events Fund.

The amount of public funding committed to securing the fixture was not included in Monday’s announcement.

The match will kick off at 4pm on March 28, with ticket details to be announced.