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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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
Really hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to comments