The Otago Spirit’s quest to return to the top tier of the Farah Palmer Cup will get under way in August.
The Spirit, who have been one of the in-form teams in the second-tier Championship in recent seasons, will have three home games, it was revealed in the Farah Palmer Cup draw yesterday.
They will start their season against North Harbour on August 10 and play Northland on August 24 at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Both those are marked as doubleheaders, Otago playing their NPC games after.
But the Spirit’s final home game against Taranaki on September 6 is heading to Tahuna Park, which got a revamp during the Fifa Women’s World Cup in 2023.
They are also on the road to Wellington on August 17, in Porirua, and to Tasman, in Nelson, on August 30.
The Championship semifinals are scheduled for the weekend of September 13-14 and the final the following weekend of September 20-21.
The Spirit have played an exciting and expansive form of rugby and expect that to continue this season.
Assistant coach Matt Direen makes the step up to head coach this season and will provide plenty of continuity for the team.
Former head coach Craig Sneddon stepped down after two years at the helm and moved to Christchurch.
The Spirit wrapped up the Championship in third spot last year and put in a brilliant shift in the semifinal to beat Wellington 51-38.
They later came up short 33-3 against Manawatū in the final.
Manawatū will be promoted to the Premiership, and Northland — who were elevated to the Premiership last season — will drop back to the Championship, after being winless in the higher grade last season.
Otago Spirit, FPC draw
• v North Harbour, 2.05pm, August 10, Dunedin
• v Wellington, 11.35am, August 17, Porirua
• v Northland, 11.35am, August 24, Dunedin
• v Tasman, 4.35pm, August 30, Nelson
• v Taranaki, 2.05pm, September 6, Dunedin
