Jamie Joseph Sets Sights on 2027 After Draw Release

With the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific draw now locked in, Highlanders Head Coach Jamie Joseph says the season has started to take on a much clearer shape. 

For Joseph and his coaching group, the release of the draw is a vital piece of the puzzle in terms of planning for pre-season and how preparations between games will look for the Highlanders.  

“It often feels that there’s a massive blank when you’re trying to get ready for a Super Rugby season until you get the draw, so that’s super important.” 

The Highlanders will open their 2027 campaign away from home against the Fijian Drua in Fiji on the 13th of February. Starting the season in one of rugby’s most challenging environments, Joseph is well aware of the contrast in environments between the Highlanders region and Fiji.  

“First game going to Fiji in hot, humid and potentially rainy weather in February, that’s going to be a massive challenge for us because the conditions around where we’re training are totally opposite.” 

“We’ll have to put some thought into that and do what we possibly can to prepare for a match over there.” 

The Highlanders have been tasked with a dynamic first few rounds for their Super Rugby Pacific draw. After returning from Fiji, the Highlanders will return home to face the Blues before crossing the Tasman to Canberra to face the Brumbies.  

“If I had to summarise the first four games, it would be around the fact that we’ve got quite a bit of travel,” Joseph said. 

“The biggest thing that has an effect on performance outside of the game is the travel, so we’ve got a fair bit of travel in those first four or five games.” 

The new format means each team only gets one bye, and there is a slightly longer regular season.  Because of this, Joseph believes squad management will become increasingly important throughout the 2027 campaign. 

“When you don’t have a lot of breaks within the season and you’re playing up to a dozen games before you get a bit of a breather, you’ve got to be able to use your whole squad.” 

“You’re never going to have your best team on all the time. That’s part of the coaching group’s job really, to try and work that out, and that’s why the draw is really important. We can start strategising how we do that.” 

Round 8 of Super Rugby sees the return of Super Round to Ōtautahi Christchurch. 

The Highlanders will face the Fijian Drua at One New Zealand Stadium on Sunday 4 April, with Joseph pleased to see the event return to the city. 

“I thought it was great,” he said. 

“The stadium in the city. It's led itself to being the perfect destination for people to travel to. 

“The city is pumping at the moment, and having all the rugby teams and the competition in one place is great for the fans and the competition, so I’m glad it’s there again.” 

Jamie said the release of the draw brings real excitement to the coming 2027 season.  

“As soon as you know who you’re playing, where you’re playing and what you have to do to be at your best, the competition comes alive. 

“Until we know who we’re going to play and where we’re going to play, there’s kind of no context. The perspective is different, so we’ve definitely got that now.” 

The new competition format offers an advantage to teams finishing first and second as they are guaranteed spots in the semifinals. Joseph says his immediate focus remains on building a pathway toward the top four.  

“I’m not thinking about those last two spots at the moment,” he said. 

“Finding a journey or finding a pathway to get to the top four is the key focus really, and we’ve got a bit of work to do.” 

Improving the Highlanders’ performances away from home will be a priority  

Joseph acknowledges the side has not produced its best rugby on the road in recent seasons and said the coaching group was looking closely at how the team prepares for their away fixtures.  

“The Highlanders in recent years have really struggled away from home, so the coaching team are really fleshing out what’s going on,” he said. 

“We’ve got a poor record around performing to our potential and to our best away from home. 

“That’s the focus of the coaching group, to try and change things up around what we’re doing when we go away.” 

With a number of new faces across both the playing and management groups, Joseph believes there is already plenty of motivation heading into the new season. 

“There’s a lot of newness about the team. There’s a lot of newness around the management team. 

“We obviously were disappointed with our performances last year. There’s a real burning desire in our belly to get that right, and certainly for myself. 

“So, I’m looking forward to the season.”