Matatū Draw and Pre-Season Fixture Confirmed

The Super Rugby Aupiki draw has landed, giving insight into the newly expanded competition and where you can catch the Matatū girls in action for the 2024 season. 

Matatū are proud to represent Te Waipounamu, the entire South Island, and will play three home games in the 2024 season.  

Matatū will play a pre-season fixture versus Hurricanes Poua at Christchurch Football Club on Saturday 24 February, with solid competition expected between the two sides. 

The season will kick off proper with a derby versus the Blues on Saturday 2 March. This is set to be a special one, so keep an eye out for details of where in the South Island it’ll be held! 

The team heads to Wellington’s Sky Stadium to face Hurricanes Poua on Saturday 9 March, before travelling to Hamilton’s FMG Stadium Waikato for a 2023 final rematch versus the Chiefs Manawa on Saturday 16 March. No love lost after a nail-biter to wrap up Aupiki’s second ever season in 2023. 

Get set for a huge Saturday of Super Ruby on 23 March when Matatū and the Crusaders both travel to Eden Park for a double-header against the Blues. Matatū kick off at 4.35pm, Crusaders at 7.05pm. 

Our team will close the regular season with two home games in Ōtautahi Christchurch. We host the Hurricanes Poua on Friday 29 March at Apollo Projects Stadium in a double header with the Crusaders who take on the Chiefs. One ticket, two games. 

The regular season wraps on Saturday 6 April with a home game against Chiefs Manawa at Ngā Puna Wai here in Christchurch. Matatū played a huge game there in 2023 in front of a passionate crowd, and we can’t wait to get back there.  

Sarah Munro, Matatū General Manager, said 2024 was shaping up to “the best season yet of Super Rugby Aupiki”. 

“We’re thrilled to confirm our schedule for 2024. Fans can finally put dates in their calendar and look forward to supporting our girls as they take the field up and down the country to defend their title and keep Hineruhi at home,” Munro said. 

“The extended competition and longer pre-season training window is a positive step for the women’s game, and we’re pleased to see the continued growth and development of Super Rugby Aupiki.”  

Whitney Hansen, Matatū Head Coach, said “having the draw finalised helps us to prepare and allows our fans the opportunity to get excited about the upcoming games in their cities or near them”. 

“Our season last year saw an increase in what is a very special group of Matatū fans, and with an extended season we look forward to the opportunity to play in front of those fans more often,” Hansen said. 

“We’re particularly excited about taking some games around Te Waipounamu.”