Waratahs ‘delighted’ with simpler Super Rugby draw, but A-League scheduling problems remain

A SIMPLER Super Rugby draw that returns tribalism to Australian rugby has been welcomed by the Waratahs after the new 15-team competition’s fixture list was released.

The Waratahs celebrate a win over the Reds last season. Picture: Darren England.

A SIMPLER Super Rugby draw that returns tribalism to Australian rugby has been welcomed by a “delighted” Waratahs after the new 15-team competition’s fixture list was released.

But the A-League Grand Final weekend - which caused a ruckus earlier this year - and another scheduling clash with Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium shape as potential problems for the Waratahs, and could end up seeing them moving the games to the SCG or suburban venues.

SANZAAR released the 2018 draw after the Force’s court defeat and closure allowed the organisation to push the button on the new competition.

The Waratahs celebrate a win over the Reds last season. Picture: Darren England.

Instead of a convoluted four conference, 18-team model, Super Rugby returns to three conferences of five teams each. Japan has joined the Australian conference and Argentina is in the South African group.

Teams in a conference will play each other home-and-away, and they also play four of the five teams in the other two conferences.

SEE THE WARATAHS’ 2018 SUPER RUGBY FIXTURE LIST BELOW

Conference winners will still get a finals spot but the remaining five spots will go to the next five highest teams on points.

The Waratahs start with a home clash against the Stormers on February 24, before an early round-the-world trip to play the Sharks and Jaguares away. Byes are placed steadily, and the Waratahs won’t face the Hurricanes or the Bulls. They have a run of four Kiwi rivals in a row mid-season.

“It mirrors what we did last season with an early tour and we certainly learned from that experience and those lessons,” Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson said.

“The byes are nicely placed, we have nice four week blocks. We are happy. The two key elements in the competition are getting home-and-away, traditional derbies back and then nearly playing every team. So you have to be the best team to win it.

“And probably the other factor is, too, is it is a lot simpler to understand. People can look at the log and understand exactly who is were and who is going to qualify.”

After a year of dwindling crowds, Waratahs CEO Andrew Hore said he was happy he would be able to sell a simpler, more tribal competition.

“From our end we are very happy with that and it is a lot easier to understand,” he said.

The Waratahs have two home fixtures with venues still down as TBC - the Reds on 21 April and the Blues on 5 May. The first is a scheduling clash with Sydney FC and the second is due to the FFA booking Allianz Stadium for the entire weekend in the event Sydney, Central Coast or Newcastle need the venue for the A-League Grand Final.

More scheduling conflicts with Sydney FC are set to plague the Waratahs again in 2018.

The issue raised its head this year when the FFA - at the 11th hour - tried to get the Tahs to move their game a night before, to ensure the surface wasn’t dug up. It ended up not being an issue.

Hore said he was still in discussions with relevant governing bodies about resolving the clashes and hoped to give Tahs fans certainty “sooner rather than later”.

There are a few scenarios the Waratahs may have to move one or both games. If the Reds game can’t be moved forward or back a day - and the Swans aren’t playing at home - there is speculation the big derby could be played at the SCG.

The Swans have first claims on the SCG however, and the AFL draw is released next month. If there is a Swans clash, the possibility of moving the game to a suburban ground could be possible but it’d have to be big enough given the Reds are traditionally a big gate for the Tahs.

If the FFA pay hiring costs for Allianz Stadium for the A-League Grand Final weekend, the Tahs may also have to investigate the SCG or an alternate venue for their Blues clash.

“We will be looking at what other options are available to us. At this stage our intention will be to play it here, on the Saturday evening”, Hore said.

WARATAHS 2018 SEASON DRAW

Sat, 24 Feb: Stormers (h)

Sun, 4 Mar: Sharks (a)

Sun, 11 Mar: Jaguares (a)

Sun, 18 Mar: Rebels (h)

Bye (23-24 Mar)

Sat, 31 Mar: Brumbies (a)

Sat, 7 Apr: Sunwolves (a)

Sat, 14 Apr: Reds (h) Venue TBC

Fri, 20 Apr: Lions (h)

Bye (27-28 Apr)

Sat, 5 May: Blues (h) Venue TBC

Sat, 12 May: Crusaders (a)

Sat, 19 May: Highlanders (a)

Sat, 26 May: Chiefs (a)

Sat, 2 June: Reds (a)

Fri, 29 June: Rebels (a)

Sat, 7 July: Sunwolves (h)

Sat, 14 July: Brumbies (h)

Originally published as Waratahs ‘delighted’ with simpler Super Rugby draw, but A-League scheduling problems remain