Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby have confirmed the final schedule for the inaugural Harvey Norman Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, kicking off next month on 14 May.
Due to short lead-in, the proposed ‘Super Round’ has been replaced by another round of home-and-away fixtures in Round Three.
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Games will be taken to regional centres in Hawke’s Bay, Townsville and Wollongong while the Blues will square off against the Brumbies at Eden Park in Auckland.
Round Three will kick-off at McLean Park in Napier when the Hurricanes host the Western Force on Friday 28 May before the Waratahs square off against the Crusaders at 3.05pm on Saturday afternoon.
The action then moves back across the Tasman for the Blues clash with the Brumbies before a tantalising Saturday night showdown between the Queensland Reds and Chiefs at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. The clash will also mark the first-ever Super Rugby match at the new venue.
Round Three will then wrap up on Sunday afternoon when the Highlanders host the Rebels in New Zealand’s south.
The rest of the Harvey Norman Super Rugby Trans-Tasman schedule remains unchanged.
Every Harvey Norman Super Rugby Trans-Tasman game will be ad-free, live and on demand with extended coverage on Stan Sport.
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Every Saturday night fixture of Harvey Norman Super Rugby Trans-Tasman will also be simulcast live, free-to-air on 9Gem.
Rugby Australia Chief Executive Officer Andy Marinos said: “It’s great to be in a position where we can play our New Zealand counterparts again.
“It has been a terrific Harvey Norman Super Rugby AU that has already far exceeded everyone’s expectations, and we still have the last Round left to play before Finals action.
“Our players are intensely focused on finishing this Super Rugby AU season on a high, and then throwing everything at their Kiwi counterparts during six action-packed weeks of Trans-Tasman footy.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to host a ‘Super Round’ in Round Three however I’m really excited to take games to Townsville and Wollongong and engaging with those communities,” Marinos said.
For more information on the full draw, including tickets, click here.
Updated fixtures for Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round Three
Friday 28 May
5.05pm AEST – Hurricanes v Western Force at McLean Park, Napier
Saturday 29 May
3.05pm AEST - NSW Waratahs v Crusaders, venue TBC
5.15pm AEST – Blues v Brumbies at Eden Park, Auckland
7.45pm AEST – Queensland Reds v Chiefs at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Sunday 30 May
12.35pm AEST – Highlanders v Melbourne Rebels, venue TBC in Highlanders region
