Super Rugby Aupiki Final 2024 Will Be Broadcast On Tiktok

The final of Super Rugby Aupiki, the premier domestic women’s rugby competition in New Zealand, will be played on April 13, 2024, at Eden Park and should feature Japanese internationals. This will be the first time a rugby game is being produced for and broadcast on social media platform, Tiktok – complete with presenters and commentary.

Although not purely Asia-specific, which is always our focus, we do like to keep tabs on innovation and streaming and fan engagement are top among them and the potential of two Sakura XVs players in the final in NZ is something to be admired.

The initiative is a partnership between telecommunications company 2degrees, broadcaster Sky and TikTok, with the intention of taking the game to where the audiences are and broadening its appeal – the final will be played between Blues Women and Chiefs Manawa.

World Rugby has already lauded the impact of its social media engagement and in March 2024, was awarded the No.1 spot on TikTok in the Redtorch Sport On Social League Table, which ranks social media performances. TikTok is already a partner with Six Nations Rugby in Europe.

Japanese Connections – Super Rugby Aupiki

Japanese player, Seina Saito, Sakura’s most capped international, is part of the Chiefs Manawa squad, while the Chief’s Head coach is Crystal Kaua who coached Saito’s Japanese club side, the Mie PEARLS from 2018 to 2022.

Saito is due to return to Japan after the season and play both sevens and 15s for her Pearls club, with the national side also preparing for internationals in 2024.

The Chiefs Rugby Club signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chiefs Manawa and Mie Womens Rugby Club PEARLS in 2024 to assist with developing women’s rugby in New Zealand and Japan.

On the opposite side, Japanese player Nijiho Nagata joined the Blues as cover for Esther Faiaoga-Tilo who was ruled out due to injury. The 13-cap Sakura hooker joined from the PEARLS club.

Photo Credit: CHRISTEL YARDLEY / STUFF – Seina Saito, Sakura’s most capped international is part of the Chiefs Manawa

Super Rugby Aupiki Final 2024 – Broadcast on TikTok

For the match in NZ, Sky will shoot the final in vertical format, then stream it live and for free on its TikTok channel. “This will be the first time any sports final, male or female, has been broadcast on the platform and setting a new standard for sports broadcasting globally” said a press release.

Women’s rugby is also increasingly popular in New Zealand, with a 20 per cent rise in females playing since 2022 – largely due to the success of the national team and the hosting of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in late 2022.

One of the commentators for the broadcast will be NZ 7s superstar Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who just competed in Hong Kong to win back-to-back gold medals and who herself is a two-time Rugby World Cup winner, Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold medallist and two-time Sevens Rugby World Cup winner.

Woodman-Wickliffe said, “Being part of a world-first like this is incredibly special and a huge occasion for women’s rugby. I’m really passionate about the visibility of women’s rugby and the idea of using technology to increase accessibility by bringing Sky Super Rugby Aupiki directly to mobile phones across NZ feels like a fantastic way to do it”.

Audience members will be able to comment and vote as the game is played – adding a new level of engagement.

2degrees CEO Mark Callander says the company has been looking for ways it could help build momentum and interest in women’s sports and partnering to broadcast the final made sense.

Photo Supplied

Callender said, “Saturday’s final promises to be a show-stopper and we can’t wait to connect more Kiwis to the entertainment of some top-flight women’s rugby. New Zealand is leading the way in women’s sports with a lot of momentum built up over the past few years. We now want to continue feeding that momentum and 2degrees couldn’t be prouder to help champion this fight for fair for our female players.”

The press release also stated, “The ability to broadcast the game on TikTok will open up the Super Rugby tournament to a whole new generation of fans.”

Lauren Quaintance, Chief Media and Data Officer from Sky added: “By sharing the Sky Super Rugby Aupiki final on TikTok, we are opening up the tournament to a wider demographic of young people, supporting the growth of women’s sport on a new level.”

The broadcast truck and bespoke camera crew, production team, and presenting and commentary team are specially designed for the TikTok stream.

Japanese player Nijiho Nagata is at the Blues and could feature in the Super Rugby Aupiki Final 2024

How To Watch – Super Rugby Aupiki Final 2024

The final broadcast will be available to stream live for free on the Sky Sport TikTok.

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• Natasha Olson-Thorne On HKCR Women’s Sevens Goals And Reaching 50 Caps.