The Super Rugby trans-Tasman draw has been finalised with additional home matches for the Blues, Hurricanes and Highlanders, while the Crusaders and Chiefs have to travel to Wollongong and Townsville respectively.
The fixtures in question are for round three of the competition, which kicks off on May 14, and replace the proposed ‘Super Round’ that would have seen a full round of games played at a single venue
Round three has a strong regional flavour with the Hurricanes hosting the Western Force at McLean Park in Napier on Friday May 28.
The following day sees the Crusaders head to WIN Stadium in Wollongong to play the Waratahs before the Blues host the Brumbies at Eden Park. The Reds and Chiefs round out the day with the inaugural Super Rugby match at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.
On Sunday May 30, the Highlanders host the Melbourne Rebels at a venue still to be finalised within the Highlanders’ region.
The remainder of the draw remains unchanged from that announced last December, with the final between the two top-placed teams on the combined competition ladder scheduled for June 19.
“We are grateful to be in a position to lock in the final matches for Super Rugby Trans-Tasman and with the travel bubble open we’re all looking forward to welcoming our Australian counterparts to New Zealand next month,” NZR general manager professional rugby & high-performance Chris Lendrum said.
“It’s disappointing we were unable to get the ‘Super Round’ off the ground in 2021, but I’m sure it’s a concept we will re-visit in the future.
“Fans and players are understandably focused on the exciting final rounds of Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU, but I’m sure when the dust settles there will be an air of anticipation as to how the respective teams measure up against their trans-Tasman rivals.”
Updated fixtures for Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round 3
Friday May 28
7.05pm – Hurricanes v Western Force at McLean Park, Napier
Saturday May 29
5.05pm – NSW Waratahs v Crusaders at WIN Stadium, Wollongong
7.15pm – Blues v Brumbies at Eden Park, Auckland
9.45pm – Queensland Reds v Chiefs at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Sunday May 30
2.35pm – Highlanders v Melbourne Rebels, venue TBC in Highlanders region