It’s an exciting time for football fans, with the 2020 Super Rugby season kicking off this weekend. Check out the full Round 1 teams for every side here.
Brad Thorn has made a number of bold selection moves ahead of his side’s Friday night match in Canberra, naming Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the second row, Harry Wilson at no.8 and Isaac Lucas at no.10.
Wilson is one of up to five players making their Reds debut, with Henry Speight (wing) and Dane Zander, Seru Uru and Hunter Paisami (all off the bench) all a chance to pull the Queensland jersey on for the first time.
The Brumbies, for their part, have named Super Rugby debutant Noah Lolesio at no.10, while NRL convert Solomone Kata makes his debut on the wing.
The Chiefs have named three debutants for the season-opener against the Blues at Eden Park, with Quinn Tupaea, Kaleb Trask and Naitoa Ah Kuoi (bench) all set to play Super Rugby for the first time. The returning Aaron Cruden has been named on the bench. They hard originally named Damian McKenzie to make his long-awaited return from injury, but he has since withdrawn and been replaced by Shaun Stevenson.
The Blues will be without star recruit Beauden Barrett until April.
The Waratahs will have up to four debutants in their opening clash against the Crusaders, with Will Harrison to make his debut at no.10 and Mark Nawaqanitawase to start on the right wing. Angus Bell and Carlo Tizzano have named on the bench and will also be making their debut, should they play.
Be sure to bookmark this page and keep checking back throughout the rest of the week as all the teams for Super Rugby Round 1 are announced.
All times listed are AEDT – Sydney/Melbourne time
Blues
1. Alex Hodgman, 2. Kurt Eklind, 3. Sione Mafileo, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Tom Robinson, 6. Dalton Papalii, 7. Tony Lamborn, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Jonathan Ruru, 10. Stephen Perofeta, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. TJ Faiane, 13. Joe Marchant, 14. Mark Telea, 15. Matt Duffie
Reserves
16. Ray Niuia, 17. Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18. Ofa Tuungafasi, 19. Josh Goodhue, 20. Blake Gibson, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Emoni Narawa.
Chiefs
1. Aidan Ross, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Tyler Ardron, 5. Mitchell Brown, 6. Lachlan Boshier, 7. Mitchell Karpik, 8. Sam Cane (c), 9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10. Kaleb Trask, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 12. Alex Nankivell, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Sean Wainui, 15. Shaun Stevenson
Reserves
16. Bradley Slater, 17. Atu Moli, 18. Angus Ta’avao, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Pita Gus Sowakula, 21. Brad Weber, 22. Aaron Cruden, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown
Brumbies
1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Murray Douglas, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Tom Cusack, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks
Reserves
16. Connal McInerney, 17. Harry Lloyd, 18. James Slipper, 19. Caderyn Neville, 20. Will Miller, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Bayley Kuenzle, 23. Andy Muirhead
Reds
1. JP Smith, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Angus Blyth, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Angus Scott-Young, 7. Liam Wright (c), 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. Isaac Lucas, 11. Henry Speight, 12. James O’Connor, 13. Jordan Petaia, 14. Jock Campbell, 15. Bryce Hegarty
Reserves
16. Alex Mafi, 17. Dane Zander, 18. Feao Fotuaika, 19. Izack Rodda, 20. Seru Uru, 21. Moses Sorovi, 22. Hamish Stewart, 23. Hunter Paisami
Sharks
1. Ox Nche, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. James Venter, 7. Tyler Paul, 8. Sikumbuzo Notshe, 9. Louis Schreuder, 10. Curwin Bosch, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 13. Lukhanyo Am (c), 14. Sbu Nkosi, 15. Aphelele Fassi
Reserves
16. Craig Burden, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. John-Hubert Meyer, 19. Le Roux Roets, 20. Henco Venter, 21. Sanele Nohamba, 22. Boeta Chamberlain, 23. Jeremy Ward
Bulls
1. Lizo Gqoboka, 2. Jaco Visagie, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Andries Ferreira, 5. Juandré Kruger, 6. Jeandré Rudolph, 7. Abongile Nonkontwana, 8. Josh Strauss, 9. Ivan van Zyl, 10. Morné Steyn,
11. Rosko Specman, 12. Burger Odendaal (c), 13. Johnny Kotze, 14. Cornal Hendricks, 15. Warrick Gelant
Reserves
16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Ruan Nortje, 20. Ryno Pieterse, 21. Wian Vosloo, 22. Embrose Papier, 23. Manie Libbok
Sunwolves
1. Jarred Adams, 2. Jaba Bregvadze, 3. Conraad Van Vuuren, 4. Kotaro Yatabe, 5. Michael Stolberg, 6. Brendon O’Connor, 7. Shunsuke Nunomaki, 8. Jake Schatz (cc), 9. Rudy Paige, 10. Garth April, 11. Tautalatasi Tasi, 12. Ben Te’o, 13. Keisuke Moriya (cc), 14. Siosaia Fifita, 15. James Dargaville
Reserves
16. Leni Apisai, 17. Chris Eves, 18. Hencus van Wyk, 19. Justin Downey, 20. Mitch Jacobson, 21. Naoto Saito, 22. Shogo Nakano, 23. JJ Engelbrecht
Rebels
1. Fereti Sa’aga, 2. Anaru Rangi, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Ross Haylett-Petty, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Rob Leota, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Frank Lomani, 10. Matt To’omua, 11. Andrew Kellaway, 12. Billy Meakes, 13. Reece Hodge, 14. Marikia Koroibete, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty (c)
Reserves
16. Steven Misa, 17. Cameron Orr, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Luke Jones, 20. Michael Wells, 21. Richard Hardwick, 22. Theo Strang, 23. Andrew Deegan
Crusaders
1. George Bower, 2. Andrew Makalio, 3. Oliver Jager, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Mitchell Dunshea, 6. Tom Sanders, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Whetu Douglas, 9. Mitch Drummond, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Leicester Faingaanuku, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Will Jordan, 15. David Havili
Reserves
16. Codie Taylor, 17. Isi Tu’ungafasi, 18. Michael Alaalatoa, 19. Luke Romano, 20. Cullen Grace, 21. Bryn Hall, 22. Brett Cameron, 23. Sevu Reece
Waratahs
1. Tom Robertson, 2. Robbie Able, 3. Tetera Faulkner, 4. Tom Staniforth, 5. Rob Simmons (c), 6. Lachlan Swinton, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Jed Holloway, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Will Harrison, 11. Alex Newsome, 12. Karmichael Hunt, 13. Lalakai Foketi, 14. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 15. Kurtley Beale
Reserves
16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Chris Talakai, 19. Ryan McCauley, 20. Jack Dempsey, 21. Carlo Tizzano, 22. Mitch Short, 23. Jack Maddocks
Stormers
1. Steven Kitshoff, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Salmaan Moerat, 5. Chris van Zyl, 6. Jaco Coetzee, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Siya Kolisi (c), 9. Herschel Jantjies, 10. Damian Willemse, 11. Seabelo Senatla, 12. Jamie Roberts, 13. Ruhan Nel, 14. Sergeal Peterson, 15. Dillyn Leyds
Reserves
16. Scarra Ntubeni, 17. Ali Vermaak, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. David Meihuizen, 20. Ernst van Rhyn, 21. Johan du Toit, 22. Godlen Masimla, 23. Rikus Pretorius
Hurricanes
1. Fraser Armstrong, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Scott Scrafton, 6. Reed Prinsep, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Gareth Evans, 9. TJ Perenara (c), 10. Fletcher Smith, 11. Ben Lam, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Wes Goosen, 15. Jordie Barrett
Reserves
16. Asafo Auma, 17. Pouri Rekete-Stones, 18. Tevita Mafileo, 19. Vaea Fifita, 20. Devan Flanders, 21. Jamie Booth, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Vince Aso
Jaguares
1. Mayco Vivas, 2. Julián Montoya, 3. Santiago Medrano, 4. Guido Petti, 5. Lucas Paulos, 6. Francisco Gorrissen, 7. Marcos Kremer, 8. Tomás Lezana, 9. Tomás Cubelli (c), 10. Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11. Emiliano Boffelli, 12. Juan Cruz Mallía, 13. Matías Moroni, 14. Bautista Delguy, 15. Santiago Carreras
Reserves
16. Agustín Creevey, 17. Nahuel Tetas Chaparro, 18. Joel Sclavi, 19. Javier Ortega Desio, 20. Rodrigo Bruni, 21. Felipe Ezcurra, 22. Domingo Miotti, 23. Matías Orlando
Lions
1. Dylan Smith, 2. Pieter Jansen, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 4. Ruben Schoeman, 5. Marvin Orie, 6. Marnus Schoeman, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 8. Len Massyn, 9. André Warner 10. Elton Jantjie (c), 11. Courtnall Skosan, 12. Dan Kriel, 13. Duncan Matthews, 14. Tyrone Green, 15. Tiaan Swanepoel
Reserves
16. Jan-Henning Campher, 17. Sti Sithole, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20. Ruan Vermaak, 21. Hacjivah Dayimani, 22. Morné van der Berg, 23. Mannie Rass
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Will the blokes have to sit down to wee? How many hairdryers? :silly:
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yep. I’m sure he’ll be starting sooner rather than later (barring his involvement in the 7s)
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Kaleb Trask playing for the Chiefs is a very literary name....Caleb Trask from Steinbeck's "East of Eden."
Zenn
Roar Rookie
I like this Waratahs team. I suggest that Maddocks is still learning Waratahs' attacking plays and defence alignments
Zenn
Roar Rookie
A lot of visiting men's teams are now able to change in the "women's" changerooms at marginal electorates.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Paisami will find it interesting given Thorne's "culture" demands.
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Jaguares: 15. Santiago Carreras, 14. Bautista Delguy, 13. Matias Moroni, 12. Juan Ceuz Mallia, 11. Emiliano Boffelli, 10. Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9. Tomas Cubelli (c), 8. Tomas Lezana, 7. Marcos Kremer, 6. Francisco Gorrissen, 5. Lucas Paulos, 4. Guido Petti, 3. Santiago Medrano, 2. Julian Montoya, 1. Mayco Vivas Subs: 16. Agustin Creevy, 17. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18. Joel Sclavi, 19. Javier Ortega Desio, 20. Rodrigo Bruni, 21. Felipe Ezcurra, 22. Domingo Miotti, 23. Matias Orlando Joel Sclavi Born → 24 June 1994 (25 yo) Position → Prop Height → 1.9 m Weight → 144 kg
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Rikus Pretorius
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Central Qld coast
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
Gotta say, I was a huge supporter of the Sunwolves but I’m considerably less enthused about them this season with hardly any local contingent. They had a style and players who were exciting to watch, mainly because they had to innovate to compete, and it really felt like they were building something. Now they really are a mercenary squad who I feel will fall back on safe, boring, basic rugby tactics. So disappointing!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Leota got quite a bit of game time last year. Was good without being exceptional.
Paul
Roar Rookie
TWAS given Toomua can play 10/12 and Hodge can cover 11-15 Wessels can probably afford the 6/2 split. I'm keen to see how Leota goes, haven't seen too much of him since he and Tuipulotu signed to great fanfare a few years back.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah apparently 180 minutes across the first three games and no more than 6 consecutive starts. Something about rests too.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Holloway was back for the start of pre season though I’m pretty sure, as he only had a 5 game stint.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
At least there may be cause for optimism on Faulkner starting now. Perhaps Penny read his former Padawans mind :silly:
Drew
Roar Rookie
@jeznez, there are certain protocols for the number of minutes for some of the All Blacks. That could be impacting some of the NZ selections.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yep
Drew
Roar Rookie
He did (Fitzpatrick). Holloway likewise over in Ireland.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
With Hooper electing to hand in the armband and the recruiting of two genuine 7’s in Tizzano and Gamble. I don’t think we’ll see Hooper logging the same kind of minutes in Super Rugby from here on in. He will have one eye on looking after his body over the next 4 years.
Drew
Roar Rookie
Nice late game impact. I'm equally excited to see Tizzano and Short come on later. The younger players just play with such abandon.