The Buildcorp Super W competition has been launched in Sydney today to coincide with International Women's Day, with the captains from all six Super Rugby Clubs across Australia and Fiji gathered to officially launch the 2023 season.
The reigning champions, the Fijiana Drua - who made history last year as the first overseas team to compete in the Buildcorp Super W competition, have returned for a second season and are looking to build on their impressive debut.
Runners-up in 2022, the NSW Waratahs are again stocked with Wallaroos aiming to put the experience that they gained at last year's Rugby World Cup to good use.
The Queensland Reds will be aiming to force their way back to the top of Australian Rugby under Wallaroos captain Shannon Parry.
The Western Force have pulled off a coup, signing a host of international players including talented Wallaroos lock Michaela Leonard, while the Melbourne Rebels will be buoyed by the announcement of their new captain, Melbourne born-and-bred Ashley Marsters.
The Brumbies will be looking to make a push for the finals under Wallaroos assistant and club legend Scott Fava.
The season is set to feature a total of 18 games, with each team playing each other once in a round-robin format.
A dozen games will be played as a double-header with the Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific competition across the season.
The top four teams will then compete in the semi-finals at Concord Oval in Sydney, with the two winners advancing to the Grand Final in Townsville on 6 May.
The 2023 season will feature the highest recorded number of female officials in the competition's history, including more match officials, judicial officers, and an all-female, all former-Wallaroo panel of six citing commissioners.
"The Buildcorp Super W is a vital part of our rugby ecosystem, providing a pathway for our Women's Rugby players to compete at the highest level and showcase their skills," said Rugby Australia CEO, Andy Marinos.
"We recently announced an additional two million dollars for our elite Women's XVs programs as we transition towards a fully professional future - and the lure of a home Rugby World Cup in 2029.
"Following on from a thrilling Quarter-Final performance at last year's World Cup, I am sure that the players right across Super W will take great inspiration from that into this year's season.
"Buildcorp has been committed to supporting the Super W competition since its inception in 2018, and continues its outstanding commitment to Women's Rugby in 2023."
"The 2023 Buildcorp Super W competition takes place in a historic year for Women's Rugby, that has seen increased levels of support and investment," said the Principal of the Buildcorp Group, Josephine Sukkar AM.
"We are so excited to watch the undiscovered talent emerge throughout the competition, and for new and existing fans to connect with their favourite players.
"I am sure both Eddie Jones and Jay Tregonning will be watching closely as the competition develops."
