20 Sep 2016

Stormers face horror Super Rugby schedule

Cape Town - The Stormers face a daunting schedule in next year's Super Rugby after the 2017 fixtures were released on Tuesday.

Having played the five Australian teams in 2016, the Stormers, who topped the Africa 1 Conference this season, will now face the might of the five New Zealand franchises next season.

The Stormers will play the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday, February 25 in their opening fixture and will conclude their campaign against the same opponents at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, July 15.

In between those matches, the Stormers face a proverbial tour from hell, with matches against the Crusaders, Highlanders and defending champion Hurricanes on consecutive weekends in New Zealand.

In their two matches prior to departure, the Stormers will host the Chiefs and last year's losing finalists, the Lions, giving the Cape side five back-to-back matches that could make or break their season.

It will be the second season for the 17-round, four-conference tournament structure that sees each team play 15 matches and have two byes.

As in 2016, each team will play six matches within its own conference and nine matches against other conference teams.

2017 Stormers Super Rugby fixtures:

Saturday, February 25: Stormers v Bulls (Newlands)

Saturday, March 4: Stormers v Jaguares (Newlands)

Saturday, March 11: Southern Kings v Stormers (Port Elizabeth)

BYE WEEKEND

Saturday, March 25: Sunwolves v Stormers (Singapore)

Saturday, April 1: Stormers v Cheetahs (Newlands)

Saturday, April 8: Stormers v Chiefs (Newlands)

Saturday, April 15: Stormers v Lions (Newlands)

Saturday, April 22: Crusaders v Stormers (Christchurch)

Friday 28 April 28: Highlanders v Stormers (TBC)

Friday, May 5: Hurricanes v Stormers (TBC)

BYE WEEKEND

Friday, May 19: Stormers v Blues (Newlands)

Saturday, May 27: Sharks v Stormers (Durban)

Saturday, July 1: Cheetahs v Stormers (Bloemfontein)

Saturday, July 8: Stormers v Sunwolves (Newlands)

Saturday, July 15: Bulls v Stormers (Pretoria)

Super Rugby Qualifiers:

Friday, July 21

Saturday, July 22

Super Rugby semi-finals:

Friday, July 28

Saturday, July 29

Super Rugby final:

Saturday, August 5

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