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Fijiana Drua to take SuperW to Fiji in 2023

Drua's players celebrate after their victory in the women's Super Rugby W final against New South Wales. William West/AFP via Getty Images

The Super W 2023 draw has been confirmed with the return of a five-round season, semifinals and final series, while Fijiana Drua will take games home to Fiji for the first time.

Entering the competition in 2022, Fijiana Drua went unbeaten through the season to claim their maiden SuperW title and for the first time will play in front of their local fans in Nadi and Suva.

Sticking to the five-round format instead of expanding to a complete home-and-away competition, the season will feature at least 10 double-headers with their Super Rugby Pacific counterparts including a Rebels-Reds Super W and SRP clash in the opening round.

Following a success Rugby World Cup 2021 campaign which saw the Wallaroos reach the quarterfinals, the new SuperW season will play a significant role in continuing the momentum Australia gained through the World Cup as they look ahead at another big international season.

"The Super W competition gives our players the opportunity to test themselves against the best that Australia and Fiji have to offer," CEO of Rugby Australia Andy Marinos said.

"This will be a crucial season for the best players in Australia, who will be hoping to put their best feet forward ahead of a jam-packed international calendar for the Wallaroos in 2023.

"As part of the golden decade of Rugby in Australia, we see huge potential for growth in the women's game and 2023 looks to be a pivotal season across Super W and the Wallaroos.

"Our national team's performance at the recent Rugby World Cup was inspiring, and we see that performance as a great opportunity to build the status of the women's game - the competition is a fantastic opportunity for fans to get out and see the Wallaroos stars that made us so proud in New Zealand."

The Waratahs will kick the season off with the opening game at their new home ground Allianz stadium against Western Force with a double-header before the Drua take on the Brumbies in Nadi for the first time.

2023 Super W Draw

Round 1:

NSW Waratahs vs Western Force, Friday 24 March, 5:05pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Fijiana Drua vs ACT Brumbies Saturday 25 March, 1:35pm, Prince Charles Park, Nadi

Melbourne Rebels vs Queensland Reds, Saturday 25 March, 5:05pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Round 2:

Queensland Reds vs Western Force, Friday 31 March, 4:05pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Fijiana Drua vs Melbourne Rebels, Saturday 1 April, 1:05pm, HFC Bank Stadium, Suva

ACT Brumbies vs NSW Waratahs, Saturday 1 April, 5:05pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Round 3:

Queensland Reds vs ACT Brumbies, Friday 7 April, 5:05pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

NSW Waratahs vs Fijiana Drua, Saturday 8 April, 3:05pm, Concord Oval, Sydney

Melbourne Rebels vs Western Force, Saturday 8 April, 5:05pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Round 4:

ACT Brumbies vs Melbourne Rebels, Friday 14 April, 5:05pm, Gio Stadium, Canberra

NSW Waratahs vs Queensland Reds, Saturday 15 April, 5:05pm, TBC, TBC

Western Force vs Fijiana Drua, Sunday 16 April, 1:05pm, McGillivray Oval, Perth

Round 5:

Melbourne Rebels vs NSW Waratahs, Friday 21 April, 5:05pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Western Force vs ACT Brumbies, Saturday 22 April, 3:05pm, HCF Park, Perth

Queensland Reds vs Fijiana Drua, Sunday 23 April, 1:05pm, Sci-Fleet Stadium, Brisbane

Semi-Finals

First vs Fourth, Sunday 30 April, 1:05pm, Concord Oval, Sydney

Second vs Third, Sunday 30 April, 3:05pm, Concord Oval, Sydney

Final

Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2, Sunday 6 May, Venue TBC