Rugby Australia (RA) and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) are delighted to announce a Trans-Tasman crossover competition in 2021, to follow their respective domestic Super Rugby tournaments.
The Trans-Tasman tournament will feature an additional 26 games over six straight weeks, kicking off on Friday 14 May, with a Final on Saturday 19 June.
The competition will feature all 10 Super Rugby teams, with each Australian team to play each New Zealand team in 25 crossover matches before the Final.
All teams will play two home games and two away games as well as a ‘Super Round’ – where all matches played in Round Three will be played at the one location – over a single weekend.
The NSW Waratahs will kick things off against the Hurricanes on home soil, before a trip to Auckland to take on the Blues in Round 2.
They’ll be faced with a stern test against the Super Rugby Aotearoa Champions, the Crusaders in the competition’s ‘Super Round’.
Rob Penney’s men will then make their way back across the ditch to face the Highlanders, before wrapping up the regular season against the Chiefs at home.
The Final will be played between the top two placed teams on the combined competition table with the team who finished first to host the decider.
Kick-off times, dates and venues will be announced in due course.
All 26 matches in the tournament will be live and on demand, ad-free, as part of a new add-on sports package which will become available on Stan in 2021.
A selected match during each week of the tournament will also be simulcast live free-to-air on the Nine Network.
Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby will announce the process to select the location of the ‘Super Round’ in due course.
Rugby Australia interim Chief Executive, Rob Clarke welcomed this latest announcement for the game in Australia.
“This is a truly historic day for Rugby in the southern hemisphere, with the first-ever Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby competition,” Clarke said.
“This will generate enormous excitement across both countries with some of the best players in the world set to challenge each other after the conclusion of Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa.
“I’d like to thank Mark Robinson and his team at New Zealand Rugby for working so closely with us. Bring on 2021!”
NSW Rugby CEO, Paul Doorn said that the Trans-Tasman competition was another significant milestone for the game in both Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s been a big week for Super Rugby and today’s announcement is a fantastic development for clubs across both countries,” Doorn said.
“Facing off against our friends from across the Tasman has been a hallmark of Super Rugby in years gone by, it’s great to see it return in 2021 following our domestic competitions.
“The confirmation of a Trans-Tasman competition adds significant value to our game in several ways following what’s been a tough time for professional sport globally.
“It’s been a huge undertaking by all involved at Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby to get to this point and we’re so pleased to see this hard work come to fruition.”
NSW Waratahs Super Rugby Trans-Tasman draw*:
Round 1: NSW Waratahs v Hurricanes
Round 2: Auckland Blues v NSW Waratahs
Round 3: NSW Waratahs v Crusaders
Round 4: Highlanders v NSW Waratahs
Round 5: NSW Waratahs v Chiefs
*draw subject to change.
For more information on NSW Waratahs 2021 Membership visit nsw.rugby/experience/membership.
