Your complete guide to the Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Women's pre-season trials

By Nick Wasiliev / Editor

This week will see the 2024 professional rugby season start to ramp up, as Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific sides and Super W teams begin final preparations for their respective campaigns.

Over the next few weeks, sides will host multiple trials in preparation for their respective round-one kick-offs, with teams looking to brush off the cobwebs of the silly season and establish or build combinations to hit the ground running.

So, wait, who is playing who again in these trials? And where? Fear not. Head below to see what fixtures await in the Australian Super Rugby and Super W pre-season:

NOTE: some sections will be incomplete and subject to change as more details become available.

The Rebels will host the Waratahs in their first trial of 2024. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Melbourne Rebels

The trials season officially gets underway this Saturday, down in Melbourne. The Rebels men’s side will host two trials as Kevin Foote officially welcomes nine new faces to the Stockade for their first clash since their Japan exhibition match against the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in October last year.

Kicking off at Moorabbin Rugby Club, the Rebels will host the Waratahs on Saturday, February 3rd, which could be the first time fans will be able to glimpse Taniela Tupou in Melbourne colours.

Two weeks later and one week out from their opening round against the Brumbies at AAMI Park, the Rebels will welcome a fast-improving Fijian Drua side to Gosch’s Paddock.

Men’s fixtures

The Melbourne Rebels Women’s side have two trials currently planned ahead of their opening round clash on March 15th against the Western Force in Perth, where they will welcome the Queensland Reds to Geelong as preparation for their season grows. 

Women’s fixtures

Harry Wilson has been all smiles at Ballymore under new coach Les KIss. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Queensland Reds

While the Reds women will be heading on the road, the men will host two trials in back-to-back weeks ahead of their round one clash against the Waratahs. 

Les Kiss will be determined to build on last November’s victory at Ballymore against the Panasonic Wild Knights and ensure he hits the ground running in his new tenure, coming up against an unpredictable Western Force side.

Watch every match of Super Rugby Pacific ad-free, live & on demand on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport

Following this, the Reds will welcome the Waratahs to Roma for a special fan event held across two days, the Santos Festival of Rugby. This festival will see both the men’s and women’s square off for pre-season bragging rights, the Santos Cup. The event will include junior rugby clinics, fan events, and musical performances from DJ Jonny Mac and Hot Dub Time Machine.

Men’s fixtures:

More Rugby



Rugby

The Women’s side have locked themselves in for three trials as they look to put past disappointments behind them and claim their maiden Super W title. In addition to their clash against the Waratahs in Roma and the Rebels in Geelong, they will also take on the Penina Pearls, and Oceania representative side in Ballymore in late February

Women’s fixtures

The Reds pre-season matches will be streamed on Stan Sport.

Caitlyn Halse of the Waratahs passes the ball during the Super W match between Melbourne Rebels Women and NSW Waratahs Women at AAMI Park, on April 21, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

NSW Waratahs

After a relatively quiet pre-season which saw their team play one session against a NSW Pasifika side, the Tahs are set to have a busy pre-season, kicking off with their clash against the Rebels in Moorabbin this Saturday.

After travelling to Roma, the main squad will remain in Queensland ahead of their round one clash, while an extended ‘A’ squad will return to Sydney for a joint clash with the Warringah Rats and Manly Marlins at Rat Park. 

The Tahs will also have a U/18s Academy clash at Concord Oval on March 2nd, playing against the Queensland Reds Academy. 

Men’s fixtures:

The Waratahs Women’s side will be having an extremely busy pre-season, with four trials currently in the mix. Following their trip to Roma for the Festival of Rugby, the Tahs will host the Brumbies, the Tokyo Phoenix representative side, and finish with a clash on the Gold Coast between an Oceania representative side. 

Women’s fixtures: 

Corey Toole of the Brumbies kicks ahead to score a try during the round 12 Super Rugby Pacific match between ACT Brumbies and Highlanders at GIO Stadium, on May 14, 2023, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

ACT Brumbies

The Brumbies will travel across Australia for their pre-season, kicking off at Canberra’s spiritual home of club rugby at Viking Park for a doubleheader clash involving both their men’s and women’s sides, with the men taking on the Fijian Drua.

Following this, Stephen Larkham’s men will make the journey west to take on the Western Force. 

Men’s fixtures

The Brumbies Women meanwhile will enjoy three trials ahead of a tough first-round clash against the Waratahs, playing Hong Kong China at home as part of the doubleheader, before hopping on the road to play the Tahs in Campbelltown and a Pasifikia XV side on the Gold Coast.

Women’s fixtures

The Brumbies will be streaming their Viking Park clashes on Bar TV Sports.

Trilleen Pomare of the Force passes the ball during the Super W match between Western Force and ACT Brumbies Women at HBF Park, on April 22, 2023, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Western Force

Finally, the Force will also be making a trek across the Nullarbor, kicking off their pre-season at Ballymore against the Queensland Reds, before returning to Revo Fitness Stadium in Claremont to face the Brumbies as part of a Western Force fan day, ahead of their round one home clash against the Hurricanes.

Men’s fixtures

The Women’s side will be welcoming a plethora of international stars but will be staying in Perth for their pre-season ahead of their home clash against the Rebels. They will welcome the Tokyo Phoenix for two fixtures in Perth as part of their new agreement, before a final fixture against the Rebels ahead of round one.

Women’s fixtures

The Crowd Says:

AUTHOR

2024-02-12T23:22:01+00:00

Nick Wasiliev

Editor

G'day folks. The Brumbies and Western Force are now offering highlights reels on their websites for trial games, you can check them out now in the article.

AUTHOR

2024-02-03T00:34:48+00:00

Nick Wasiliev

Editor

Additional update: both the Brumbies Women's match against Hong Kong and the men's match against the Drua will be streamed on Bar TV Sports. Link is included in the article.

AUTHOR

2024-02-01T05:55:40+00:00

Nick Wasiliev

Editor

I am actually. Have good reason to be optimistic given the state of affairs with all the clubs. But also concerned, because if we can't close the gap this year, we likely never will under the current circumstances.

AUTHOR

2024-02-01T05:54:45+00:00

Nick Wasiliev

Editor

I said 'Canberra’s spiritual home of club rugby', not the Brumbies spiritual home. Reason I said that is that nearly all finals games in the club season are played there, such as like the John I Dent Cup, as well as any rep games that aren't Super Rugby or Wallaby related usually take place at Viking Park whenever they happen in Canberra. Vikings in the NRC also played there.

2024-01-31T04:10:41+00:00

SG

Roar Rookie

Could someone please explain how Viking Park is the Brumbies spiritual home..?? Not great research buddy.

AUTHOR

2024-01-31T02:40:38+00:00

Nick Wasiliev

Editor

Ahhhh, never get tired of those random calls to random people to get info :laughing:

2024-01-30T08:18:35+00:00

In From The Side

Roar Rookie

Thanks Nick, let’s hope we see a bit of an improvement this year. Success in Super rugby will help the Wallabies

2024-01-30T05:57:38+00:00

The Late News

Roar Rookie

Cheers Nick. Looking forward to the season? Go the mighty Force! Undefeated so far this year!

2024-01-30T05:48:09+00:00

Ankle-tapped Waterboy

Roar Rookie

Thanks Nick for this article. I did it last year and recall with good humour having to phone the caterer at one rugby ground to find out whether or not that was actually the venue for one match. Such were the messages: not so much mixed messages, as no message! Good to see the publicity is actually out in the public realm in 2024.

AUTHOR

2024-01-30T05:42:52+00:00

Nick Wasiliev

Editor

Reds matches will be streamed on Stan.

2024-01-30T04:29:05+00:00

Footy Franks

Roar Rookie

Count on the Brumbies to perform whilst the rest fight for the spoon

2024-01-30T00:14:01+00:00

Bobby

Roar Rookie

Pretty sure rugby contracts are done on a yearly basis. Only difference is at Wallaby level in which game bonus's factor into the income stream of the players ( who makes the matchday 23).

2024-01-29T23:32:32+00:00

Don

Roar Rookie

Not sure on other sides, but usually if a Reds games isn't broadcast on Stan they will be live streamed on the RedsTV YouTube channel.

2024-01-29T23:20:59+00:00

Bobby

Roar Rookie

Nick. Good luck and thanks for the reply.

2024-01-29T22:46:59+00:00

Derek Murray

Roar Rookie

If they get home with 1-1 they’d be happy I’d think

AUTHOR

2024-01-29T22:40:01+00:00

Nick Wasiliev

Editor

We're still looking for details at present. A lot of the games were on Clutch last year and they aren't around any more. We'll update them as they come.

2024-01-29T21:42:11+00:00

kingplaymaker

Roar Guru

This article is a very nice and unusual overview of this forgotten part of the season. But why on earth not just make these real Super matches with all the money that draws and start the season now? What's the point of playing any other matches? Who at the end of the month turns to their boss and says 'don't pay me. That work was just some other volunteering.'?

2024-01-29T21:36:26+00:00

Bobby

Roar Rookie

Hey Nick, fantastic read. Can you please advise Roarers ( if possible) how they can "stream" these matches. Thanks. Bob.

2024-01-29T21:32:57+00:00

Hugh_96

Roar Pro

Excellent summary of the coming pre season games. Looking at the dates rugby is mighty close. Might have to pop down to Rat park for the NSW ‘A’ trial

2024-01-29T21:30:26+00:00

Jamie Hevia

Roar Rookie

Thanks Nick! Let's get back to the rugby, and let's try to forget everything else that is going on.

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