Super Rugby: details of the new transtasman Super Rugby competition confirmed

New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia have announced a transtasman cross-competition in 2021, to follow their respective national Super Rugby tournaments.

The tournament will feature 26 additional games over six consecutive weeks, beginning on Friday, May 14 of next year, with a final on Saturday, June 19, 2021.

The competition will feature the 10 Super Rugby teams with each Kiwi team to play each Australian 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 the games played in the third round will be played in one place, over the weekend.

NZR and RA will announce the process to select the location for the ‘Super Round’ in due course.

The final will be played between the two best teams at the competition table combined with the team that finished first to host the decider.

Start times, dates and locations will be announced in due course.

NZR boss Mark Robinson was excited to announce the new “groundbreaking” competition.

“Super Rugby transtasman is a great result for fans on both sides of the Tasman and is a testament to the strong relationship between New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia.”

“It has been a testing moment for rugby in both countries, but also an opportunity to reinvent the game in our part of the world by 2021. The result is an exciting and innovative new competition, which will benefit fans, players, broadcasters and Superclub.

“We all know how special the rivalry between New Zealand and Australia is when it comes to sport and this tournament will add another exciting chapter. The banter between Rob Clarke and myself has already begun and I’m sure fans will feel the same.”

RA Acting Executive Director Rob Clarke added: “This is a truly historic day for rugby in the southern hemisphere, with Australia and New Zealand’s first ever Super Rugby competition.

“This will generate enormous excitement in both countries with some of the best players in the world ready to challenge each other after the conclusion of Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa.

“It will be a really exciting new product for our 2021 streaming partners Stan and Nine, and I know fans around the world will be glued to their screens and devices to see it all.

“The Super Round is also a great initiative with a city fortunate to host all 10 teams in one weekend at a Super Rugby show.

“I would like to thank Mark Robinson and his team at New Zealand Rugby for working so closely with us. May 2021 arrive!”

Super Rugby 2021 transtasman draw

Round one

May 14-15, 2021

Crusaders v Brumbies
Western Force v Chiefs
Melbourne Rebels v Blues
Highlanders v Queensland Reds
NSW Waratahs v Hurricanes

Second round

May 21-22, 2021

Chiefs v Brumbies
Western force against highlanders
Hurricanes v Melbourne Rebels
Queensland Reds v Crusaders
Blues v NSW Waratahs

Third Round – Super Round

May 28-29, 2021

Brumbies v Blues
Hurricanes v Western Force
Melbourne Rebels v Highlanders
Queensland Reds v Chiefs
NSW Waratahs v Crusaders

Round four

June 4-5, 2021

Brumbies v Hurricanes
Crusaders against Western Force
Chiefs v Melbourne Rebels
Queensland Reds v Blues
Highlanders v NSW Waratahs

Round five

June 11-12, 2021

Brumbies vs Highlanders
Blues v Western Force
Melbourne Rebels v Crusaders
Hurricanes v Queensland Reds
NSW Waratahs v Chiefs

Final

Saturday 19 June 2021

TBD