Dunedin will miss out on Super Rugby Aupiki action for a third straight year.
Matatu have been allocated three home games for the 2026 season, with two games to be played in Christchurch and the other at Fraser Park in Timaru.
The team representing the South Island last played in Dunedin in their opening game of the 2023 season, and played in Invercargill in 2024 and Nelson in 2025.
Super Rugby Aupiki has moved to a June-July window this season — marketed as aligning better with the rest of the rugby season — and will host a festival-style event in round three, where all teams will play back-to-back in Pukekohe.
Matatu, who lost to the Blues in last year’s final, open their season against the Chiefs Manawa at the new One NZ Stadium in Christchurch on June 21.
Their other home games are against the Hurricanes Poua (July 11) in Timaru, and the Blues (July 18) at Nga Puna Wai in Christchurch.
They are away to the Poua (June 21), the Blues (June 27) and the Manawa (July 4).
The final is scheduled for July 25, and the transtasman final, where the Aupiki winner will play the Super Rugby W winner, will be played on August 1 in Australia.
