The 2023 Super Rugby Pacific Season (known as Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific in Australia, Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific in Fiji and DHL Super Rugby Pacific in New Zealand) was the 28th season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and a combined team from Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific Island nations. The defending champions were the , who won their 11th title in 2022.

The tournament followed a similar schedule to the 2022 season, with 84 matches played in a round-robin, followed by finals in a knockout format. The season was expected to run from Friday 24 February 2023, culminating in a final to be played on Saturday 24 June, before the start of the 2023 mid-year international window.

The Fijian Drua, who were based in Australia for the 2022 season due to complications surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, opened their permanent home base in Nadi, Fiji ahead of the 2023 season. In 2023, the team played its home games at Churchill Park in Lautoka and HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. continued to be based in Auckland, New Zealand, but played a match at Apia Park in Samoa in 2023. The Waratahs also had a new home venue in 2023, moving to the newly built Allianz Stadium.

Competition format

Similarly to the 2022 season, the 12 participating teams each played 14 regular season games: 7 home games and 7 away games, although the 2023 season once again featured a Super Round, during which all teams played their round 2 games at AAMI Park in Melbourne. All six fixtures of Round 2 were held at the stadium between Friday 3 March and Sunday 5 March. The 14 games included 11 round-robin games against the other participating teams and 3 additional "rivalry" games (derby matches), in which they played another team for the second time in a home-and-away format. Each team also had one bye week.

The teams were ranked 1 to 12 on one competition table based on competition points earned during the regular season. The top eight teams at the conclusion of the regular season qualified for the play-offs. In the quarter-finals, the first-ranked team played the eighth-ranked team, the second-ranked team played the seventh-ranked, the third-ranked played the sixth-ranked and the fourth-ranked team played the fifth-ranked. The quarter-final winners progressed to the semi-finals, and the winners of the semi-finals advanced to the final. The higher ranked team hosted each play-off match.

Standings

Competition rules Competition points breakdown: * 4 competition points for a win * 2 competition points for a draw * 1 competition bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 competition bonus point for scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match Tiebreaker rules: If, at any stage, teams have the same number of competition points, the following tiebreaker rules apply (in this order) to determine their standing: * Most wins from all matches* Highest difference between total points for and total points against from all matches (points difference)* Most tries scored from all matches* Highest difference between total tries for and total tries against from all matches* Coin toss

Round-by-round The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets:

Team Progression Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 QF SF Final Blues 5 (1st) 6 (4th) 10 (3rd) 11 (4th) 15 (4th) 16 (5th) 21 (5th) 21 (5th) 26 (5th) 30 (4th) 34 (3rd) 34 (5th) 38 (4th) 42 (3rd) 46 (3rd) Won Lost DNQ Brumbies 4 (5th) 8 (3rd) 12 (2nd) 17 (2nd) 17 (3rd) 21 (3rd) 26 (3rd) 31 (2nd) 31 (2nd) 32 (2nd) 36 (2nd) 41 (2nd) 41 (3rd) 41 (4th) 46 (4th) Won Lost DNQ Chiefs 5 (3rd) 10 (1st) 15 (1st) 19 (1st) 23 (1st) 27 (1st) 27 (2nd) 31 (1st) 36 (1st) 40 (1st) 45 (1st) 46 (1st) 50 (1st) 54 (1st) 59 (1st) Won Won Lost Crusaders 0 (10th) 5 (7th) 6 (8th) 10 (5th) 15 (5th) 19 (4th) 23 (4th) 23 (4th) 28 (3rd) 28 (5th) 33 (4th) 37 (4th) 42 (2nd) 47 (2nd) 48 (2nd) Won Won Won Drua 4 (6th) 4 (8th) 8 (5th) 9 (7th) 9 (9th) 13 (7th) 13 (7th) 13 (8th) 13 (9th) 13 (11th) 17 (8th) 17 (9th) 17 (10th) 21 (10th) 26 (7th) Lost DNQ DNQ Force 4 (4th) 4 (9th) 8 (6th) 8 (8th) 8 (10th) 9 (10th) 9 (10th) 9 (11th) 13 (8th) 13 (10th) 13 (11th) 18 (8th) 22 (8th) 22 (9th) 22 (10th) DNQ DNQ DNQ Highlanders 0 (12th) 0 (12th) 0 (12th) 4 (11th) 9 (8th) 14 (6th) 14 (6th) 14 (7th) 14 (7th) 15 (8th) 15 (10th) 15 (11th) 19 (9th) 23 (8th) 24 (9th) DNQ DNQ DNQ Hurricanes 5 (2nd) 9 (2nd) 10 (4th) 14 (3rd) 19 (2nd) 23 (2nd) 27 (1st) 27 (3rd) 27 (4th) 31 (3rd) 32 (5th) 37 (3rd) 37 (5th) 37 (5th) 41 (5th) Lost DNQ DNQ Moana Pasifika 1 (7th) 1 (11th) 2 (11th) 2 (12th) 2 (12th) 2 (12th) 2 (12th) 2 (12th) 2 (12th) 2 (12th) 3 (12th) 3 (12th) 3 (12th) 4 (12th) 8 (12th) DNQ DNQ DNQ Rebels 1 (9th) 2 (10th) 6 (10th) 6 (10th) 10 (7th) 10 (9th) 10 (9th) 10 (10th) 10 (11th) 14 (9th) 15 (9th) 15 (10th) 16 (11th) 21 (11th) 21 (11th) DNQ DNQ DNQ Reds 0 (11th) 5 (6th) 6 (9th) 10 (6th) 11 (6th) 11 (8th) 11 (8th) 15 (6th) 15 (6th) 19 (6th) 19 (7th) 23 (7th) 23 (7th) 24 (7th) 24 (8th) Lost DNQ DNQ Waratahs 1 (8th) 6 (5th) 7 (7th) 7 (9th) 7 (11th) 8 (11th) 8 (11th) 13 (9th) 13 (10th) 17 (7th) 21 (6th) 26 (6th) 31 (6th) 31 (6th) 31 (6th) Lost DNQ DNQ Key: win draw loss bye Posp. No match

Matches

The fixtures for the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific competition were released on 25 September 2022.

Finals The finals fixtures are as follows:

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Statistics

Leading point scorers No. Player Team Points Average Details 1 Damian McKenzie 191 11.94 3 , 43 , 30 , 0 2 Richie Mo'unga 174 11.60 3 , 57 , 14 , 1 3 Sam Gilbert 122 10.17 4 , 33 , 12 , 0 4 Reece Hodge 119 9.15 2 , 38 , 11 , 0 5 Jordie Barrett 118 9.08 2 , 36 , 12 , 0 6 Beauden Barrett 115 9.58 3 , 32 , 12 , 0 7 Noah Lolesio 97 6.47 2 , 30 , 9 , 0 8 Ben Donaldson 81 5.40 1 , 26 , 8 , 0 9 Christian Lealiifano 70 7.78 3 , 20 , 5 , 0 10 Leicester Fainga'anuku 65 5.00 13 , 0 , 0 , 0 Source: Points

Leading try scorers No. Player Team Tries Average 1 Leicester Fainga'anuku 13 1.00 2 Shaun Stevenson 12 0.71 Codie Taylor 12 0.86 Mark Tele'a 12 0.92 5 Iosefo Masi 9 0.64 Kini Naholo 9 0.90 Cam Roigard 9 0.64 Corey Toole 9 0.64 9 Zach Kibirige 8 0.73 Emoni Narawa 8 0.62 Mark Nawaqanitawase 8 0.57 Ardie Savea 8 0.67 Source: Tries

Discipline PlayerTeam Red Yellow Round (vs. Opponent) Isaia Walker-Leawere 1 2 Round 11 (vs. ) Round 3 (vs. ) Round 11 (vs. ) Ollie Callan 1 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Round 3 (vs. ) Siosifa Amone 1 0 Round 3 (vs. ) Angus Blyth 1 0 Round 7 (vs. ) Tevita Mafileo 1 0 Round 2 (vs. ) Mike McKee 1 0 Round 3 (vs. ) Dalton Papalii 1 0 Round 12 (vs. ) Sam Cane 0 3 Round 1 (vs. ) Round 3 (vs. ) Final (vs. ) Pari Pari Parkinson 0 3 Round 2 (vs. ) Round 9 (vs. ) Round 10 (vs. ) Michael Curry 0 2 Round 7 (vs. ) Round 11 (vs. ) Bryn Gatland 0 2 Round 2 (vs. ) Round 8 (vs. ) Luke Jacobson 0 2 Round 10 (vs. ) Final (vs. ) Jackson Pugh 0 2 Round 2 (vs. ) Round 8 (vs. ) Cameron Suafoa 0 2 Round 1 (vs. ) Round 3 (vs. ) Darcy Swain 0 2 Round 8 (vs. ) Round 11 (vs. ) Timoci Tavatavanawai 0 2 Round 4 (vs. ) Round 6 (vs. ) Jordan Uelese 0 2 Round 10 (vs. ) Round 13 (vs. ) Seru Uru 0 2 Round 1 (vs. ) Round 4 (vs. ) Brad Wilkin 0 2 Round 2 (vs. ) Round 12 (vs. ) Naitoa Ah Kuoi 0 1 Round 8 (vs. ) Jermaine Ainsley 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Allan Alaalatoa 0 1 Round 14 (vs. ) Lachie Anderson 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) Suetena Asomua 0 1 Round 3 (vs. ) Ethan Blackadder 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) Daniel Botha 0 1 Round 6 (vs. ) Elia Canakaivata 0 1 Round 5 (vs. ) Josh Canham 0 1 Round 12 (vs. ) Caleb Clarke 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Jack Debreczeni 0 1 Round 13 (vs. ) Vaiolini Ekuasi 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Cabous Eloff 0 1 Round 7 (vs. ) Miracle Faiʻilagi 0 1 Round 10 (vs. ) Leicester Fainga'anuku 0 1 Round 14 (vs. ) Lalakai Foketi 0 1 Round 10 (vs. ) Shannon Frizell 0 1 Round 3 (vs. ) Solomone Funaki 0 1 Round 11 (vs. ) Connor Garden-Bachop 0 1 Round 5 (vs. ) Ethan de Groot 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Will Harris 0 1 Round 8 (vs. ) Haereiti Hetet 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Reece Hodge 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Michael Hooper 0 1 Round 6 (vs. ) Tom Horton 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Mitch Hunt 0 1 Round 4 (vs. ) Brayden Iose 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Harry Johnson-Holmes 0 1 Round 6 (vs. ) Corey Kellow 0 1 Round 7 (vs. ) Du'Plessis Kirifi 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) James Lay 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Jordan Lay 0 1 Round 4 (vs. ) Anton Lienert-Brown 0 1 Final (vs. ) Ezekiel Lindenmuth 0 1 Round 10 (vs. ) Fraser McReight 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Santiago Medrano 0 1 Round 3 (vs. ) Marino Mikaele-Tu'u 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Andy Muirhead 0 1 Round 8 (vs. ) Etene Nanai-Seturo 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Ollie Norris 0 1 Round 11 (vs. ) George Poolman 0 1 Round 4 (vs. ) Cortez Ratima 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Luke Reimer 0 1 Round 12 (vs. ) Marcel Renata 0 1 Round 11 (vs. ) Kitione Salawa Jr. 0 1 Round 4 (vs. ) Ardie Savea 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Sam Slade 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) Ryan Smith 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) Hoskins Sotutu 0 1 Semifinal (vs. ) Hamish Stewart 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Kershawl Sykes-Martin 0 1 Round 4 (vs. ) Joseva Tamani 0 1 Round 8 (vs. ) Codie Taylor 0 1 Round 15 (vs. ) Mark Tele'a 0 1 Round 7 (vs. ) Chase Tiatia 0 1 Round 6 (vs. ) Jone Tiko 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Zuriel Togiatama 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Emosi Tuqiri 0 1 Round 14 (vs. ) James Tucker 0 1 Round 13 (vs. ) Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 0 1 Round 1 (vs. ) Isi Tuʻungafasi 0 1 Round 10 (vs. ) Mahe Vailanu 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Apisalome Vota 0 1 Round 9 (vs. ) Joey Walton 0 1 Round 14 (vs. ) Brad Weber 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Harry Wilson 0 1 Round 2 (vs. ) Tom Wright 0 1 Round 7 (vs. )

Players

Squads

The following squads have been named. Players listed in italics denote non-original squad members:

+ squadForwards Adrian Choat • Sam Darry • Kurt Eklund • Josh Fusitua • Alex Hodgman • Akira Ioane • Nepo Laulala • James Lay • Jordan Lay • Dalton Papalii • Taine Plumtree • Marcel Renata • Ricky Riccitelli • Tom Robinson • Rob Rush • Anton Segner • Hoskins Sotutu • Cameron Suafoa • James Tucker • Patrick Tuipulotu • Ofa Tuʻungafasi • Soane VikenaBacks Beauden Barrett • Finlay Christie • Caleb Clarke • Corey Evans • Taufa Funaki • Bryce Heem • Rieko Ioane • AJ Lam • Sam Nock • Stephen Perofeta • Harry Plummer • Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens • Zarn Sullivan • Caleb Tangitau • Mark Tele'a • Tanielu Teleʻa • Roger Tuivasa-SheckCoach Leon MacDonald

+ squad Forwards Allan Alaalatoa • Jahrome Brown • Charlie Cale • Nick Frost • Tom Hooper • Fred Kaihea • Sefo Kautai • Ed Kennedy • Lachlan Lonergan • Connal McInerney • Cadeyrn Neville • Billy Pollard • Luke Reimer • Tom Ross • Pete Samu • Blake Schoupp • Rory Scott • James Slipper • Darcy Swain • Sam Thomson • John Ulugia • Rob Valetini • Rhys van Nek • Harry Vella • Jack Wright Backs Nathan Carroll • Hudson Creighton • Jack Debreczeni • Chris Feauai-Sautia • Len Ikitau • Noah Lolesio • Ryan Lonergan • Declan Meredith • Jesse Mogg • Andy Muirhead • Ben O'Donnell • Pedro Rolando • Ollie Sapsford • Klayton Thorn • Corey Toole • Tamati Tua • Nic White • Tom Wright Coach Stephen Larkham

+ squadForwards Naitoa Ah Kuoi • Kaylum Boshier • Sam Cane • George Dyer • Samipeni Finau • Luke Jacobson • Josh Lord • Laghlan McWhannell • Atu Moli • Ollie Norris • Simon Parker • Jared Proffit • Brodie Retallick • Aidan Ross • John Ryan • Manaaki Selby-Rickit • Bradley Slater • Pita Gus Sowakula • Angus Taʻavao • Samisoni Taukei'aho • Tyrone Thompson • Solomone Tukuafu • Tupou Vaa'iBacks Solomon Alaimalo • Liam Coombes-Fabling • Bryn Gatland • Josh Ioane • Lalomilo Lalomilo • Anton Lienert-Brown • Peniasi Malimali • Damian McKenzie • Etene Nanai-Seturo • Alex Nankivell • Emoni Narawa • Rameka Poihipi • Ngane Punivai • Cortez Ratima • Rivez Reihana • Xavier Roe • Daniel Rona • Shaun Stevenson • Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi • Quinn Tupaea • Brad Weber • Gideon WramplingCoach Clayton McMillan