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The 2021 Super Rugby AU season will retain the same format used this year, after Rugby Australia today revealed a draw with ten rounds plus two weeks of finals.
The season will commence on Friday, February 19 with a clash between the Red and Waratahs before the Force host the defending champions, the Brumbies, later that night.
After Nine Entertainment secured the broadcast rights on Monday, the Reds versus Waratahs will be the first-ever Super Rugby match shown live on free-to-air TV in Australia. After Round 1, Nine will show a game each Saturday night for the remainder of the regular season, plus both finals.
Stan will exclusively show the rest of the competition under their Stan Sport umbrella, and all matches shown on Nine will also be available ad-free on the streaming platform.
The finals series will start on May 1 with the second- and third-placed teams facing off for the right to play the minor premiers in the final a week later.
Kick-off times for all matches are still to be confirmed.
“Super Rugby AU was terrific in 2020 and will get better next year as this next crop of Australian rugby stars continue to develop, and they are complemented by some genuinely talented international players who have since arrived on our shores,” Rugby AU interim CEO Rob Clarke said.
“The 2021 season promises to be a great one for Australians fans with every game in primetime and with the added support of our new partners, Stan and Nine.”
With the competition finishing in early May, there is plenty of time remaining on the calendar for a trans-Tasman series at the end of the season between the best sides in the AU and Aotearoa tournaments. Rugby AU and their New Zealand counterparts are working on such a series, however an official announcement on that front is yet to be made.
Round 1
Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs, Friday 19 February, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Western Force v Brumbies, Friday 19 February, HBF Park, Perth
Round 2
Queensland Reds v Melbourne Rebels, Friday 26 February, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Brumbies v NSW Waratahs, Saturday 27 February, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Round 3
NSW Waratahs v Western Force, Friday 5 March, Venue TBC
Melbourne Rebels v Brumbies, Saturday 6 March, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Round 4
Western Force v Melbourne Rebels, Friday 12 March, HBF Park, Perth
Brumbies v Queensland Reds, Saturday 13 March, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Round 5
Melbourne Rebels v NSW Waratahs, Friday 19 March, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Queensland Reds v Western Force, Saturday 20 March, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Round 6
Brumbies v Western Force, Friday 26 March, GIO Stadium, Canberra
NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds, Saturday 27 March, Venue TBC
Round 7
NSW Waratahs v Brumbies, Friday 2 April, Venue TBC
Melbourne Rebels v Queensland Reds, Saturday 3 April, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Round 8
Melbourne Rebels v Western Force, Friday 9 April, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Queensland Reds v Brumbies, Saturday 10 April, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Round 9
Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels, Friday 16 April, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Western Force v NSW Waratahs, Saturday 17 April, HBF Park, Perth
Round 10
Western Force v Queensland Reds, Friday 23 April, HBF Park, Perth
NSW Waratahs v Melbourne Rebels, Saturday 24 April, Venue TBC
Qualifying final
Saturday 1 May
Final
Saturday 8 May
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.