Moana Pasifika and Gallagher Chiefs bringing Super Rugby Pacific to Rotorua
Moana Pasifika and the Gallagher Chiefs are teaming up to bring Super Rugby Pacific to
Rotorua for their highly-anticipated clash on Saturday April 11.
The match which was scheduled to be played in Tonga, will now be played in the Bay of Plenty
at Rotorua International Stadium.
When the teams kick off at the family-friendly time of 2pm, it will provide a significant boost for
Rotorua International Stadium, which is widely regarded as one of the best stadiums in New
Zealand.
It has successfully hosted the NRL All Stars game in 2023 with a crowd of over 17,000 turning
out to support. Last year Manu Samoa staged a home Test match there against Fiji with a crowd
of around 5000 in attendance.
Moana Pasifika CEO, Debbie Sorensen, says the team is looking forward to engaging with local
rugby fans.
“While we are sad we can’t take this game to Tonga, we do know that our fans and our
community are everywhere – including in the Bay of Plenty region. I know Rotorua will also
welcome the visit by the Chiefs, so it’s a win-win for both teams.”
Chiefs CEO, Simon Graafhuis, says it is exciting to have another game in the region after the
Gallagher Chiefs played a preseason game in Mount Maunganui in January.
“We love our fans and having the chance to play in Rotorua is a real bonus for us. We know we
have strong support in the city and we are confident those fans will turn out in force for this