Invercargill will get its first taste of Super Rugby Aupiki this year.
The city will host the first-round game between defending champions Matatū and the Blues on Saturday, March 2.
That clash had been labelled with ‘‘venue to be confirmed" since the Aupiki draw was released late last year.
It means Dunedin will not host a game — Matatū’s two other home games are in Christchurch — but is a sign the club is fulfilling its promise of taking games around the South Island.
Naturally, the support of the Invercargill Licensing Trust will have been a factor as well.
"It’s such an exciting opportunity to take a game to Invercargill as part of our season this year,” Matatū general manager Sarah Munro said.
"It’s so important to all of us at Matatū that we have the chance to play in front of all our South Island fans and we can’t wait to face the Blues in front of a passionate Southland crowd at Rugby Park."
The game will also be a chance for some players with Southland links to play in front of home fans.
Black Ferns and Matatū stars Amy Rule and Amy du Plessis both hail from the land of the swede.
Lock Emma Dermody — with the most famous name in Southland rugby — is the reigning Matatū rookie of the year and is "ecstatic" about the chance to play at home.
"Returning to my home province holds special significance as it provides a unique opportunity to showcase to young girls the pathways available to them,” Dermody said.
Rugby Southland chief executive Steve Mitchell said the union was ‘‘pleased to be able to deliver a top quality women’s game at Rugby Park”.
The game would be preceded by a curtain-raiser involving Southland women’s club players, he said.
