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The Highlanders will host the Queensland Reds in the opening game of the 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.
The five-week competition drawing was announced Monday with the first game scheduled for Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday, May 14.
The Highlanders and Crusaders will be at home in the first round with the Hurricanes, Blues and Chiefs crossing Tasman for the start of a tournament that will see the five New Zealand Super Rugby clubs take on the Reds, NSW Waratahs, Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels . and Western Force.
All 25 regular season games will be screened on Sky, including weekly doubles on Friday nights at 7.05pm and 9.45pm and three games every Saturday.
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Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn will take his team to Dunedin to play with his former Highlanders team in the first round of the 2021 Trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition.
The final between the two highest ranked teams in the combined competition table is scheduled for Saturday, June 19.
The draw also includes two afternoon games at 4.35pm in New Zealand with the Blues hosting the Waratahs at Eden Park in Round 2, and the Chiefs playing the Rebels at FMG Stadium Waikato in Round 4.
The third round will feature a super round in which all matches will be played in one place. NZR and Rugby Australia will announce the venues and other details of the Super Round in due course.
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The Crusaders celebrate their 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa title.
New Zealand Rugby General Manager for Professional Rugby and Performance Chris Lendrum said it was great to be certain of the venue and kick-off times heading into Christmas.
“When you watch the weekly matchups, you realize how exciting the competition is going to be and I think it’s something that will capture the imaginations of fans and players on both sides of Tasman,” Lendrum said.
“We will have the opportunity to see all the teams in action at Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU and there will be a lot of intrigue in how they measure up to each other when Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman begins.”
The full 2021 Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman draw is *
Round 1
Highlanders v Reds, Friday May 14, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 7:05 pm
Waratahs v Hurricanes, Friday May 14, TBC, 9:45 pm
Crusaders v Brumbies, Saturday May 15, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, 7:05 pm
Rebels v Blues, Saturday May 15, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 9:45 pm
Force v Chiefs, Saturday May 15, HBF Park, Perth, 11:55 pm
Round 2
Hurricanes v Rebels, Friday May 21, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 7:05 pm
Force v Highlanders, Friday May 21, HBF Park, Perth, 9:45 pm
Blues v Waratahs, Saturday May 22, Eden Park, Auckland, 4:35 pm
Chiefs v Brumbies, Saturday May 22, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 7:05 pm
Reds v Crusaders, Saturday May 22, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 9:45 pm
Round 3 – Super Round **
Brumbies v Blues
Hurricanes v Force
Rebels vs Highlanders
Reds v Chiefs
Waratahs vs. Crusaders
Round 4
Crusaders v Force, Friday June 4, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, 7:05 pm
Reds v Blues, Friday June 4, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 9:45 pm
Chiefs v Rebels, Saturday June 5, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 4:35 pm
Highlanders v Waratahs, Saturday June 5, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 7:05 pm
Brumbies v Hurricanes, Saturday June 5, GIO Stadium, Canberra, 9:45 pm
Round 5
Hurricanes v Reds, Friday June 11, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 7:05 pm
Brumbies v Highlanders, Friday June 11, GIO Stadium, Canberra, 9:45 PM
Rebels v Crusaders, Saturday June 12, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 4:35 pm
Blues v Force, Saturday June 12, Eden Park, Auckland, 7:05 pm
Waratahs v Chiefs, Saturday June 12, TBC, 9:45 pm
Final
Saturday June 19
* Sweepstakes subject to change and subject to a Trans-Tasman two-way travel bubble. All times are shown in NZT
** Super Round times and place to be confirmed
