The 2024 Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s season will kick off in Perth with the Western Force to host the opener against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday 15 March, as one of two double-headers played alongside the men’s team.
The Force will host three games in the five-round 2024 Super W home-and-away season, including two double-headers at HBF Park, plus a community-themed third home game at UWA Sports Park against the NSW Waratahs on Saturday 6 April.
The 2024 Super W fixtures feature a record 12 of 15 matches to be played alongside Super Rugby Pacific fixtures in both Australia and Fiji, helping shine a light on the elite women’s game.
The Force’s Super W Round 1 fixture at HBF Park against the Rebels on Friday 15 March will start at 4:30pm followed by the Force’s men’s Round 4 clash with Moana Pasifika from 7pm.
The Force’s Super W Round 2 game against the Queensland Reds on Saturday 23 March will commence at 2:05pm, followed by the Force’s men taking on the Reds from 4:35pm.
Acting Western Force CEO Niamh O’Connor said: “The profile of women’s sport in Australia has risen dramatically over the past few months and our 2024 Super W fixtures present a great opportunity to showcase our sport’s female talent in the short term along with hosting the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup. On the back of that momentum, it’s a coup to host the season opener.
“We’re also pleased to offer Force Members and supporters the opportunity to see two home women’s games alongside our men’s team, which offers fans certainty around fixtures to develop the habit of turning up to see both teams in action.
“Our third home game is a great way to tap into grass roots rugby and connect with and inspire the next generation of female talent in WA, with the intention to hold an under-age women’s representative game beforehand.”
The Super W Force team enjoyed their most successful campaign in the 2023 season, achieving back-to-back wins, winning their first game on home soil and defeating the reigning champions Fijiana Drua before narrowly missing the finals.
Force lock Michaela Leonard has since captained the Wallaroos, while Trilleen Pomare (Australia), Martha Mataele (New Zealand), Natsuki Kashiwagi (Japan), Angel Schwencke (Samoa), Saelua Leaula (Samoa) and Rachel Laqeretabua (Fiji) have featured internationally too.
Western Force female high performance manager Claudia Bell said: “After the significant gains made in 2023, we’re excited about our 2024 Super W fixtures with three home games which is fantastic for both Force Members and supporters and our team as we bid to make the finals for the first time.”
The 2024 season will also see additional investment into new women's high performance environments and player development pathways, with the Next Gen Sevens evolving into the Super Rugby Women's 7s competition and the launch of an all-new Super Rugby Women's U19 competition.
All Super W matches will be broadcast live and on-demand on Stan Sport, thus it will be easier than ever for rugby fans to support their favourite Super W team.
The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals, where they will compete for a place in the Grand Final, to be held on the last weekend in April.
Full Western Force fixtures
Round – Date – Time (all WST) – Opponent – Venue
Rd 1 – Friday 15 March 4:30pm – Rebels – HBF Park (home double-header)
Rd 2 – Saturday 23 March 2:05pm – Reds – HBF Park (home double-header)
Rd 3 – Saturday 30 March 6:35am – Fijian Drua – TBC, Fiji (away double-header)
Rd 4 – Saturday 6 April 3:05pm – Waratahs – UWA Sports Park
Rd 5 – Saturday 13 April 12:35pm – Brumbies – Viking Park, Canberra
Semi-finals – Saturday-Sunday 20-21 April – 1 v 4, 2 v 3 – TBC
Final – Saturday 27 April or Sunday 28 April – Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2 – TBC
View the full 2024 Super W fixtures at www.rugby.com.au
