It’s what all players ‘want’ says Sam Cane on trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition

All Blacks captain Sam Cane says New Zealand’s top rugby players are delighted with the trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition added to the rugby calendar for 2021.

Cane confirmed at his Captain’s Run press conference on Friday in Sydney that New Zealand players had pushed hard for additional competition to take place during the six weeks following the conclusion of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Months of bitterness ended on Friday when New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia announced a trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition for 2021.

The six-week competition was hosted by NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson and his Australian counterpart Rob Clarke in Sydney, a symbolic show of unity after a difficult period for Tasmania’s rugby relationship that was repeatedly described by RA President Hamish McLennan as in his final point. “lowest point”.

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The competition, which will depend on teams being able to travel without the administered isolation procedures currently in place during the Covid-19 pandemic, will follow Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU competitions, with the Kiwi franchises playing each Australian franchise one. time before a final. between the two best teams.

“I think it’s amazing that we can open up and play against each other,” Cane said one day of the Three Nations event against Argentina in west Sydney.

“I can’t imagine playing three rounds of hitting each other in New Zealand. It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to come here and play, and vice versa with them coming to New Zealand, ”he said.

Cane said that what all the players wanted was a trans-Tasman competition.

“We (the players) work very closely with Rob Nichol and the Players Association, and they also do a good job with New Zealand Rugby.

“They knew as players that we want to play the Australian teams, so it’s a pretty good result.”

However, Cane was a bit more cautious when asked which of the two Super Rugby trophies on next year’s line would be more valuable.

“I haven’t really thought about it much… I guess Super Rugby Aotearoa could be a bit more difficult due to the fact that we have to play each other twice. But both will be important. Everybody wants to win, and there is an inaugural trophy, so it would be great to have the Chiefs on that. “

Each side will have two home games and two away games in the free-for-all phase, while the fifth will be part of a ‘Super Round’ with all Round 3 matches to be played in one place, during a Weekend.

The final will be played at the home field of the team that finishes at the top of the ranking.

In the first round on May 14-15, the Crusaders host the Brumbies, the Chiefs hit the road to play the Western Force, the Blues take on the Rebels in Melbourne, the Highlanders welcome the Reds and the Hurricanes go to Sydney to play the Waratahs.

Robinson said he expected Australian Super Rugby teams to be “really strong”, despite previous fears within NZ Rugby about player depth in Australia.

“There have been some great banter with Rob since he came here Monday,” Robinson said.

“The Bledisloe Cup has been a great series and we know there are some strong teams in Australia and some great young talent.

“So we hope that those teams are really strong, and I know our clubs are very excited about the opportunity to face the Australians.”

Fundamentally, the competition means that New Zealand franchises will now have a minimum of six home games in Super Rugby Aotearoa and cross-competition in 2021, a number seen by Super Rugby CEOs as the minimum necessary to cover expenses.

The crossover competition in 2021 is likely to be the precursor to a full 12-team competition in 2022 involving five teams from New Zealand, five Australian teams, a team from Fiji and a team from Pasifika based in South Auckland. .

NZ Rugby and Rugby Australia have been at odds for months on the future of Super Rugby and the venue for the Rugby Championship.

NZ Rugby’s initial plan for an 8-10 team competition to take place ignited fury across the ditch and Rugby Australia refused to even consider cutting at least one of their teams.

Full draw

Round one (May 14-15)

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

Second round (May 21-22)

Chiefs vs. Brumbies; Western force against mountaineers; Hurricanes vs. Melbourne Rebels; Queensland Reds vs. Crusaders; Blues v NSW Waratahs

Third Round – Super Round (May 28-29)

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

Round four (June 4-5)

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

Round five (June 11-12)

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

Final (Saturday, June 19)