The trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition for 2021 has been finalised with 10 teams involved from New Zealand and Australia.
Following the pandemic coronavirus, the Super Rugby competition for 2020 season was cancelled with New Zealand playing their own domestic Aotearoa tournament while Australia had a successful version of their own domestic tournament.
Even though both New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia will continue their own version for 2021 as well, the trans-Tasman competition will be played in addition involving five apiece teams from both the countries.
Each team will play a home and away game along with a ‘Super Round’ where all matches played in Round Three will be played at the one location, over one weekend.
The competition will be played over six weeks beginning 14th May with the final round on 19th June.
“Super Rugby Trans-Tasman is a great result for fans on both sides of the Tasman and is testament to the strength of the relationship between New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia,” New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson.
“It’s been a testing time for rugby in both countries, but also a chance to reimagine the game in our part of the world for 2021. The result is an exciting and innovative new competition, which will benefit fans, players, broadcasters and Super clubs.
“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 I has already begun and I’m sure fans will feel the same.”
Rugby Australia interim chief executive Rob Clarke was delighted with the announcement.
“This is a truly historic day for Rugby in the southern hemisphere, with the first-ever Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby competition.
“This will generate enormous excitement across both countries with some of the best players in the world set 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 broadcast partners, Stan and Nine, and I know fans right around the world will be glued to their screens and devices to watch it all.
“The Super Round is also great initiative with one lucky city to host all 10 teams on one weekend in a Super Rugby extravaganza.
“I’d like to thank Mark Robinson and his team at New Zealand Rugby for working so closely with us. Bring on 2021!”
