Two weeks of knockout matches for Super Rugby Australia as full draw confirmed
Rugby Australia has today unveiled the full season draw for Vodafone Super Rugby AU.
Kicking off on July 3, the competition will run over 12 consecutive weekends and will culminate in a two-week finals series beginning on September 12.
The Final will be hosted by the team that finishes top of the ladder after the regular rounds and will be played on September 19. The hosts will play the winner of a two-versus-three Qualifying Final in the decider.
All 22 matches in the tournament will be broadcast exclusively live and ad-break free during play in High Definition on FOX SPORTS on Foxtel, Foxtel NOW and streamed on Kayo.
Each blockbuster Aussie derby will be played in Friday or Saturday night primetime slots, offering fans consistent tune-in times across the entire season. Matches will be played at venues across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, and Perth.
Former Wallabies star Quade Cooper has once again impressed fans on social media after posting another video showcasing his passing skills on Instagram.https://t.co/h04wOlpMXP
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 10, 2020
Round 1 features a clash between long-standing rivals Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on July 3, while the Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels will do battle at GIO Stadium in Canberra on July 4.
Western Force, playing in a Super Rugby competition for the first time since 2017, will open their campaign against the Waratahs in Sydney on July 11, after the Rebels host the Reds to kick-off Round 2.
For the first seven rounds, the Vodafone Super Rugby AU Saturday night (7.15pm AEST) fixture will feature as part of a Super Rugby double-header on FOX SPORTS after the Saturday Super Rugby Aotearoa match (5.05pm AEST kick off).
Rugby Australia interim CEO, Rob Clarke said: “Today is another exciting day for Rugby fans in Australia as we unveil the full competition draw for Vodafone Super Rugby AU.
“One of the main features of the draw is the consistent Friday and Saturday night primetime viewing slots on FOX SPORTS, which Rugby fans can set their watches to for the next 12 weeks. There will be no need to set the alarms to get up and watch your team in the middle of the night.
“We are looking forward to welcoming back the Western Force and seeing them take on their Australian rivals once again. We know there is a lot of excitement in the west and we cannot wait to see them in action.
“We know our teams will be desperate to get their hands on the silverware and players will be out to put their best foot forward for Wallabies selection at the end of the season.”
2020 Vodafone Super Rugby AU Season Draw
Round 1
Friday 3 July – Reds v Waratahs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 7.05pm AEST
Saturday 4 July – Brumbies v Rebels, GIO Stadium, Canberra – 7.15pm AEST
Western Force Bye
Round 2
Friday 10 July – Rebels v Reds, AAMI Park, Melbourne – 7.05pm AEST
Saturday 11 July – Waratahs v Western Force, TBC, Sydney – 7.15pm AEST
Brumbies Bye
Round 3
Friday 17 July – Reds v Western Force, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 7.05pm AEST
Saturday 18 July – Waratahs v Brumbies, TBC, Sydney – 7.15pm AEST
Rebels Bye
Ben Te'o has been rushed into making his first NRL appearance in six years following the Brisbane Bronco's record 59-0 defeat to the Sydney Roosters last week.https://t.co/hmZp7aHjVS
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 9, 2020
Round 4
Friday 24 July – Rebels v Waratahs, AAMI Park, Melbourne – 7.05pm AEST
Saturday 25 July – Western Force v Brumbies, TBC – 7.15pm AEST
Reds Bye
Round 5
Friday 31 July – Western Force v Rebels, HBF Park, Perth* – 7.05pm AEST (5.05pm local)
Saturday 1 August – Brumbies v Reds, GIO Stadium, Canberra – 7.15pm AEST
Waratahs Bye
Round 6
Friday 7 August – Rebels v Brumbies, AAMI Park, Melbourne – 7.05pm AEST
Saturday 8 August – Waratahs v Reds, TBC, Sydney – 7.15pm AEST
Western Force Bye
Round 7
Friday 14 August – Western Force v Waratahs, HBF Park, Perth* – 7.05pm AEST (5.05pm local)
Saturday 15 August – Reds v Rebels, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 7.15pm AEST
Brumbies Bye
Round 8
Friday 21 August – Western Force v Reds, HBF Park, Perth* – 7.05pm AEST (5.05pm local)
Saturday 22 August – Brumbies v Waratahs, GIO Stadium, Canberra – 7.15pm AEST
Rebels Bye
Round 9
Friday 28 August – Brumbies v Western Force, GIO Stadium, Canberra – 7.05pm AEST
Saturday 29 August – Waratahs v Rebels, TBC, Sydney – 7.15pm AEST
Reds Bye
Round 10
Friday 4 September – Rebels v Western Force, AAMI Park, Melbourne – 7.05pm AEST
Saturday 5 September – Reds v Brumbies, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 7.15pm AEST
Waratahs Bye
Qualifying Final (2 v 3)
Saturday 12 September
Final (1 v winner of Qualifying Final)
Saturday 19 September
*Western Force home matches subject to WA Govt guidelines
– Rugby AU
Comments on RugbyPass
9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to comments