The 2023 Super W season is the sixth edition of the competition. The season kicked off on 24 March, with the final played on 6 May.[1] In a historic first, defending champions, Fijiana Drua, got to play in front of their home crowd in Nadi against the Brumbies on 25 March.[1][2]
| 2023 Super W season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries |  Australia (5 teams)  Fiji (1 team) | ||
| Tournament format(s) | Round-robin and knockout | ||
| Champions | Fijiana Drua (2nd title) | ||
| Matches played | 18 | ||
| Official website | Super W | ||
| |||
The Fijiana Drua successfully defended their Super W title when they defeated the Queensland Reds in the grand final, the score was 38–30.[3][4]
Competition format
editEach team will play each other once in a round-robin tournament over five rounds, both Semi-Finals is expected to be played at Concord Oval on 30 April in a doubleheader (Queensland Reds vs. New South Wales Waratahs) with the final to take place on May 6 in Townsville, North Queensland.[1][5][6]
Competition
editLadder
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New South Wales Waratahs | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 158 | 48 | +110 | 4 | 0 | 24 | Qualification for Semi-finals |
| 2 | Queensland Reds | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 167 | 77 | +90 | 3 | 1 | 20 | |
| 3 | ACT Brumbies | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 105 | 106 | −1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |
| 4 | Fijiana Drua | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 88 | 118 | −30 | 1 | 0 | 9 | |
| 5 | Western Force | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 77 | 132 | −55 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| 6 | Melbourne Rebels | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 40 | 154 | −114 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Updated to match(es) played on 8 April 2023. Source: Super W
Regular season
editRound 1
edit| 24 March 16:05 AEDT (UTC+11) |
| (1 BP) New South Wales Waratahs | 43–0 | Western Force |
| Try: Piper Duck (2) 7' c, 74' c Maya Stewart 11' m Katrina Barker 21' m Adiana Talakai 28' c Margot Vella 47' m Jade Sheridan 77' c Con: Ella Ryan (4/7) 9', 29', 76', 78' | Report | Cards: Ariana Hira-Herangi Destiny Maui |
| Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park[7] Referee: Jessica Ling |
| 25 March 11:35 FJT (UTC+12) |
| Fijiana Drua | 12–7 | ACT Brumbies (1 BP) |
| Try: Lavenia Tinai 10' c Laisani Moceisawana 44' m Con: Lavenia Tinai (1/2) 11' Cards: Vani Va'aga Arei | Report | Try: Grace Kemp 53' c Con: Faitala Moleka (1/1) 54' |
| Prince Charles Park, Nadi[8][9] Referee: George Myers |
| 25 March 16:05 AEDT (UTC+11) |
| Melbourne Rebels | 0–43 | Queensland Reds (1 BP) |
| Cards: Michaela Maunsell Tanya Yabaki Ashley Marsters Naila Faaiuaso Kerri Johnson | Report | Try: Shannon Parry 5' m Cecilia Smith (2) 11' c, 34' c Renae Nona 15' m Tiarna Molloy 41' c Ellie Draper 49' m Alana Elisaia 66' c Con: Cecilia Smith (4/7) 12', 35', 41', 67' |
| Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Olympic Park[10] Referee: Tyler Miller |
Round 2
edit| 31 March 16:05 AEST (UTC+10) |
| (1 BP) Queensland Reds | 29–14 | Western Force |
| Try: Ivania Wong (2) 5' c, 75' m Deni Ross 22' c Sam Curtis 54' m Shannon Parry 64' m Con: Cecilia Smith (2/5) 7', 23' Cards: Theresa Soloai | Report | Try: Rachel Laqeretabua 47' c Angel Schwencke 61' c Con: Nicole Ledington (2/2) 48', 61' |
| Lang Park, Milton[11] Referee: Sarah Porter |
| 1 April 11:05 FJT (UTC+12) |
| (1 BP) Fijiana Drua | 39–12 | Melbourne Rebels |
| Try: Vitalina Naikore (2) 5' m, 11' m Ani Mei Likuvaqali 20' c Vani Va'aga Arei (2) 33' m, 48' m Adita Miliana 40' c Litia Marama 57' m Con: Vitalina Naikore (0/2) Lavenia Tinai (2/3) 21', 41' Livia Naidei (0/1) Cards: Siteri Rasolea Karalaini Naisewa | Report | Try: Laiema Bosenavulagi 61' m Mia-Rae Clifford 72' c Con: Harmony Vatau (0/1) Mia-Rae Clifford (1/1) 73' |
| HFC Bank Stadium, Suva[12][13] Referee: Ella Goldsmith |
| 1 April 16:05 AEDT (UTC+11) |
| ACT Brumbies | 13–24 | New South Wales Waratahs (1 BP) |
| Try: Tania Naden 11' c Con: Ashlea Bishop (1/1) 12' Pen: Ashlea Bishop (2/2) 41', 64' | Report | Try: Maya Stewart (2) 4' c, 55' m Ella Ryan 22' m Caitlyn Halse 75' c Con: Ella Ryan (1/2) 6' Claudia Meltzer (1/2) 76' |
| Canberra Stadium, Bruce[14] Referee: Jessica Ling |
Round 3
edit| 7 April 17:05 AEST (UTC+10) |
| Queensland Reds | 20–10 | ACT Brumbies |
| Try: Briana Dascombe (2) 34' c, 46' c Con: Cecilia Smith (2/2) 35', 48' Pen: Cecilia Smith (2/2) 27', 39' | Report | Try: Tabua Tuinakauvadra 31' c Con: Faitala Moleka (1/1) 33' Pen: Faitala Moleka (1/1) 11' |
| Lang Park, Milton[15][16] Referee: Jessica Ling |
| 8 April 15:05 AEST (UTC+10) |
| (1 BP) New South Wales Waratahs | 31–5 | Fijiana Drua |
| Try: Desiree Miller 8' m Layne Morgan (2) 11' c, 53' m Katalina Amosa 58' c Jade Sheridan 66' c Con: Ella Ryan (0/2) Desiree Miller (3/3) 12', 59', 67' | Report | Try: Lavenia Tinai 49' m Con: Vitalina Naikore (0/1) |
| Concord Oval, Concord[15] Referee: Tyler Miller |
| 8 April 17:05 AEST (UTC+10) |
| Melbourne Rebels | 5–13 | Western Force |
| Try: Kerri Johnson 62' m Con: Mia-Rae Clifford (0/1) Pen: Mia-Rae Clifford (0/1) | Report | Try: Martha Mataele 33' m Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke 72' m Con: Nicole Ledington (0/2) Pen: Nicole Ledington (1/1) 31' Cards: Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke |
| Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Olympic Park[17] Referee: Natarsha Ganley |
Round 4
edit| 14 April 17:05 AEST (UTC+10) |
| (1 BP) ACT Brumbies | 30–23 | Melbourne Rebels (1 BP) |
| Try: Tania Naden 6' m Lydia Kavoa 10' m Apryll Green 21' c Jasmin Huriwai 66' m Biola Dawa 77' m Con: Ashlea Bishop (1/3) 22' Faitala Moleka (0/2) Pen: Faitala Moleka (1/1) 75' | Report | Try: Utumalefata To'omalatai Eli 37' c Faalua Tugaga 46' c Con: Mia-Rae Clifford (2/2) 38', 47' Pen: Mia-Rae Clifford (3/3) 14', 24', 64' Cards: Naila Faaiuaso Faalua Tugaga |
| Canberra Stadium, Bruce[18] Referee: Ella Goldsmith |
| 16 April 15:05 AEST (UTC+10) |
| New South Wales Waratahs | 31–30 | Queensland Reds (1 BP) |
| Try: Bridie O'Gorman 5' c Desiree Miller (2) 36' m, 48' m Georgina Friedrichs 43' c Adiana Talakai 61' c Con: Desiree Miller (3/5) 6', 45', 62' | Report | Try: Carys Dallinger 8' c Sam Curtis 26' c Annabelle Codey (2) 53' m, 78' m Con: Cecilia Smith (2/4) 9', 27' Pen: Cecilia Smith (2/2) 32', 73' |
| Concord Oval, Concord[19] Referee: George Myers |
| 16 April 17:05 AEST (UTC+8) |
| Western Force | 23–10 | Fijiana Drua |
| Try: Leah Miles 19' m Martha Mataele 27' m Libya Teepa 58' c Con: Nicole Ledington (1/3) 59' Pen: Nicole Ledington (2/2) 53', 81' | Report | Try: Lavenia Tinai (2) 9' m, 31' m Con: Lavenia Tinai (0/2) Cards: Nunia Uluilakeba Keleni Marawa |
| UWA Sports Park, Mount Claremont[20] Referee: Jordan Kaminski |
Round 5
edit| 21 April 17:05 AEST (UTC+10) |
| Melbourne Rebels | 0–29 | New South Wales Waratahs (1 BP) |
| Cards: Laiema Bosenavulagi | Report | Try: Katalina Amosa 6' c Grace Hamilton 11' m Jacinta Windsor 38' c Iliseva Batibasaga 74' m Maya Stewart 78' m Con: Desiree Miller (2/5) 7', 39' |
| Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Olympic Park[21] Referee: Sarah Porter |
| 22 April 17:05 AEST (UTC+8) |
| Western Force | 27–45 | ACT Brumbies |
| Try: Angel Schwencke 25' c Trilleen Pomare 52' m Lynn Koelman 59' m Martha Mataele (2) 64' m, 81' m Con: Nicole Ledington (1/5) 26' | Report | Try: Siokapesi Palu 0' c Biola Dawa 1' c Jasmin Huriwai (2) 1' c, 21' c Faitala Moleka 13' c Kate Holland 43' c Con: Faitala Moleka (6/6) 0', 1', 1', 14', 22', 44' Pen: Faitala Moleka (1/1) 79' Cards: Iris Verebalavu |
| Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth Referee: Tyler Miller |
| 23 April 13:05 AEST (UTC+10) |
| (1 BP) Queensland Reds | 45–22 | Fijiana Drua |
| Try: Carola Kreis 1' m Haidee Head 32' c Alana Elisaia 36' c Shannon Parry 46' c Cecilia Smith 48' m Heleina Young 51' c Ellie Draper 74' c Con: Cecilia Smith (5/7) 33', 37', 46', 53', 75' | Report | Try: Siteri Rasolea 18' c Litia Marama 20' c Merewai Cumu 43' c Vani Va'aga Arei 60' c Con: Livia Naidei (1/1) 19' Merevesi Ofakimalino (0/2) Wainikiti Vosadrau (0/1) Cards: Bitila Tawake Joma Rubuti |
| Toowong Memorial Park, Toowong[22] Referee: Ella Goldsmith |
Finals
editBracket
edit| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 30 April – Concord Oval | ||||||
| New South Wales Waratahs | 17 | |||||
| 6 May – North Queensland Stadium | ||||||
| Fijiana Drua | 20 | |||||
| Fijiana Drua | 38 | |||||
| 30 April – Concord Oval | ||||||
| Queensland Reds | 30 | |||||
| Queensland Reds | 23 | |||||
| ACT Brumbies | 20 | |||||
Semi-finals
edit| 30 April 13:05 AEST UTC+10 |
| New South Wales Waratahs | 17–20 | Fijiana Drua |
| Try: Desiree Miller 1' Maya Stewart 4' Adiana Talakai 19' Con: Desiree Miller 5' | Report | Try: Siteri Rasolea 22' Vani Va'aga Arei 25', 69' Con: Luisa Tisolo 23' Pen: Luisa Tisolo 42' |
| Concord Oval, Concord Referee: Amber McLachlan |
| 30 April 15:05 AEST UTC+10 |
| Queensland Reds | 23–20 | ACT Brumbies |
| Try: Renae Nona 16' Heleina Young 44', 47' Con: Cecilia Smith 45' Pen: Carys Dallinger 70', 78' | Report | Try: Tania Naden 7', 11' Grace Kemp 55' Con: Faitala Moleka 13' Pen: Faitala Moleka 76' |
| Concord Oval, Concord Referee: Tyler Miller |
Final
edit| 6 May 16:45 AEST UTC+10 |
| Queensland Reds | 30–38 | Fijiana Drua |
| Try: Alana Elisaia 3' c Renae Nona 44' c Tiarna Molloy 64' m Sam Curtis 79' m Con: Cecilia Smith (2) 5', 45' Pen: Cecilia Smith (2) 36', 71' | Report | Try: Bitila Tawake 7' c Mereoni Nakesa 12' c Sereima Leweniqila 48' c Adita Miliana 50' c Karalaini Naisewa 59' c Con: Luisa Tisolo (5) 8', 13', 49', 51', 60' Pen: Luisa Tisolo 57' Cards: Bitila Tawake Laisana Moceisawana |
| North Queensland Stadium, Townsville Referee: Amber McLachlan |
References
edit- ^ a b c Williamson, Nathan (22 November 2022). "Super W draw confirmed for 2023 season". rugby.com.au. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ "Drua make history in Super W win over Brumbies in Nadi". rugby.com.au. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ Williamson, Nathan (2023-05-06). "Fijian Drua claim back-to-back Super W titles after defeating Reds". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Fijiana Drua become Super W champions again as Reds suffer more grand final heartache". ABC News. 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ "Queensland Reds to host three Buildcorp Super W home games in 2023". reds.rugby. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ Williamson, Nathan (14 December 2022). "Super W Final to be held in Townsville". rugby.com.au.
- ^ Smith, Ben (24 March 2023). "Super W: Western Force fight hard, but go down 43–0 to Wallaroos-laden Waratahs in season opener". Perth Now. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ Almond, Ali (27 March 2023). "Reigning Super W champions the Fijiana Drua are still undefeated after historic home game in Fiji against the Brumbies". ABC News. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ Mee, Cameron (25 March 2023). "ACT Brumbies taking positives from Super W loss to Fijiana Drua". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ Worthington, Sam (25 March 2023). "Super W round one wrap: Reds, Waratahs, Drua claim victories on historic weekend". Nine.com.au. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ Wenzel, Murray (31 March 2023). "Parry, Kiwi class shines through in Reds' Super W win". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ Krishant, Naveel (1 April 2023). "Rebels no match for the Fijiana Drua". Fiji Village. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ Woods, Melissa (1 April 2023). "Fijiana outclass Rebels in Suva Super W clash". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ Mitchell, Alex (1 April 2023). "Waratahs continue Super W dominance against Brumbies". The West Australian. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Tahs earn Grand Final revenge, Reds hold off Brumbies after lightning delay". ESPNscrum. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ Wenzel, Murray (7 April 2023). "Reds hold off Brumbies after lightning delay in Super W". The West Australian. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ Woods, Melissa (8 April 2023). "Western Force beat Rebels to break Super W win drought". The West Australian. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Brumbies snatch victory over Rebels in Super W thriller". rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia (RA). 14 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Warren, Adrian (16 April 2023). "NSW Waratahs squeeze out Reds in Super W thriller". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Smith, Ben (17 April 2023). "Super W: Western Force beat Fijian Drua 23–10, notch second win in a row". The West Australian. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Woods, Melissa (21 April 2023). "Waratahs remain unbeaten ahead of Super W finals". The West Australian. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Walton, Darren (23 April 2023). "Reds post decisive Super W win over defending champs". Perth Now. Retrieved 24 April 2023.