8 home games for Chiefs as 2017 draw announced

Above photo: New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium is likely to host a Chiefs match next year as the 2017 draw for the club has been announced. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography. 

The 2017 Super Rugby draw has been announced with the Chiefs to host eight home games next year.  

With the venues still yet to be confirmed, it’s likely Hamilton’s FMG Stadium Waikato will host the majority of the matches with New Plymouth’s Yarrow Stadium, Pukekohe’s Ecolight Stadium, Tauranga’s Bay Park and the Rotorua International Stadium the other obvious choices.  

The season will kick off on 24 February with the Chiefs taking on the Highlanders in either Dunedin or Invercargill.  

Two more New Zealand derby matches will follow in successive weeks at home for the Chiefs with the first home game on 3 March against the Blues and 2016 Super Champions the Hurricanes the week after.  

The Chiefs will also take on the Sunwolves for the very first time in Japan on Saturday 29 April.

The Hamilton based side will be away on their African tour from 9 April when they face the Stormers in Newlands followed by the Cheetahs and then Western Force in Perth on their way home.  

The Chiefs have two byes during the competition with the first during Round 5 and the second in Round 12.  

The competition kicks off on Thursday 23 Feburary where the Rebels host the Blues in Mebourne.  

Click here to see the full draw.  

Round 1: Friday 24 February – Highlanders vs Gallagher Chiefs, 7:35pm
Round 2: Friday 3 March – Gallagher Chiefs vs Blues, 7:35pm
Round 3: Friday 10 March – Gallagher Chiefs vs Hurricanes, 7:35pm
Round 4: Friday 16 March – Rebels vs Gallagher Chiefs, 9:45pm
Round 5: BYE
Round 6: Saturday 1 April – Gallagher Chiefs vs Bulls, 7:35pm
Round 7: Sunday 9 April – Stormers vs Gallagher Chiefs, 3:15am
Round 8: Sunday 16 April – Cheetahs vs Gallagher Chiefs, 1:05am
Round 9: Saturday 22 April – Force vs Gallagher Chiefs, 11:55pm
Round 10: Saturday 29 April – Gallagher Chiefs vs Sunwolves, 7:35pm
Round 11: Saturday 6 May – Gallagher Chiefs vs Reds, 7:35pm
Round 12: BYE
Round 13: Friday 19 May – Gallagher Chiefs vs Crusaders, 7:35pm
Round 14: Friday 26 May – Blues vs Gallagher Chiefs, 7:35pm
Round 15: Saturday 3 June – Gallagher Chiefs vs Waratahs, 5:05pm
Round 16: Friday 9 June – Hurricanes vs Gallagher Chiefs, 7:35pm
Round 17: Saturday 15 July – Gallagher Chiefs vs Brumbies, 5:15pm
Qualifiers: Friday 21 July/ Saturday 22 July
Semi-finals: Friday 28 July/ Saturday 29 July
Final: Saturday 5 August