2009 Super 14 draw announced

The fourteenth edition of the Super Rugby tournament kicks off in Dunedin on Friday, February 13 when the Highlanders host the ACT Brumbies in a Trans-Tasman clash, according to the official draw which was released on Monday.

Read the full 2009 Super 14 draw

The Perth-based Western Force host the Blues later on the same evening as the competition takes its Australian bow and the Johannesburg-based Lions receive the Central Cheetahs from Bloemfontein in a local derby as the first evening’s play is completed in South Africa.

The defending champion Crusaders begin their 2009 Super 14 campaign with a New Zealand derby match against the Chiefs in Christchurch the following day.

The Crusaders launch their hunt for an eighth Super Rugby crown on Saturday, February 14 as the 2008 semi-finalists join the fray.

Losing finalists, the NSW Waratahs, travel to the Hurricanes in the following match for a meeting between two of 2008’s semi-finalists.

The final remaining semi-finalists – the Durban-based Sharks – travel down the South African coast to meet the Stormers in Cape Town.

The competition retains its top-four play-off format for 2009 with the semi-finals set down for the weekend of May 22/23.

The 94-match tournament reaches its climax with the final a week later on May 30.

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