17 November 2021

The 2022 Super Rugby Pacific draw has been released and there's plenty to like for Brumbies fans

| Tim Gavel
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Brumbies pre-game at GIO Stadium

The 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season is shaping up as a good one for the Brumbies. Photo: File.

The Brumbies will play seven home games in 2022 in the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific competition, which will feature 12 teams from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

The draw appears to be relatively attractive for the Brumbies, with home games against the top three New Zealand teams from the 2021 season: the Crusaders, Chiefs and Blues.

The Brumbies will also play Australian rivals the Waratahs, Reds and Western Force at GIO Stadium.

The club will start the season in Auckland on 18 February against Moana Pasifika, a side that includes Canberra legend Christian Lealiifano.

That fixture will be followed by a Super Rugby round in Melbourne where all teams will play at AAMI Park. During this weekend, the Brumbies will play home side the Rebels for the only time during the 2022 regular rounds.

The first home game for the Brumbies will be against the Waratahs on Saturday, 5 March.

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Past clashes between these two sides would have drawn more than 20,000 fans, but in the wake of the Waratahs dismal performances in the past couple of seasons, including in 2021 when they failed to win a game, there is more sympathy than fear these days for the ‘Tahs.

The blockbuster games at GIO Stadium will see the Brumbies face the Reds on 12 March, the Crusaders on 21 May, and the Chiefs on 26 March.

Currently, the venue for the game against the Chiefs is yet to be confirmed because GIO Stadium is already booked for the NRL fixture between the Canberra Raiders and Gold Coast Titans on Saturday, 26 March.

Given Manuka Oval is also controlled by the ACT Government, common sense would suggest that an arrangement could be worked out whereby the Brumbies avoid any penalties activated by not playing at GIO Stadium.

Other Brumbies highlights from the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific draw include a Saturday afternoon game against the Hurricanes, a Sunday afternoon fixture against Western Force, and two Friday night matches against the Reds and Blues.

The top eight will make it through to the finals in June.

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Remember Super Rugby Trans Tasman earlier this year… The Chief were the worst NZ team on 19 points, and the Brumbies were the best Australian team on 5 points. NZ teams won 23 of the 25 games they played against Australian team or 92%…

The Australian public didn’t want foreign teams in the competition because they always win and when the finals come there is nothing of interest to Australians who tune out. I don’t know why they put New Zealand teams back into it. Looks like another year of minuscule crowds and Australians not bothering with the rugby code.

100% agree John, the Brumbies should be winning all the time with just Australian teams, i mean they have almost the entire Wallabies squad in the team.

ah another year of small crowds. cant see them making the grand final now that nz teams are in the comp again.

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