Sydney’s west first, then country towns the plan for NSW Waratahs
THE Waratahs will spread their home games over four venues in Sydney next year, and are considering taking games to NSW country towns from 2020.
Rugby
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE wandering Waratahs will look to take games to country towns from 2020 after confirming their home draw for next year will take in Sydney’s east, west, north and Newcastle.
With Allianz Stadium to undergo a three-year rebuild, the Tahs will mix their home venues between four grounds in 2019, and then consider more regional areas for 2020 and 2021.
Moore Park will still play host to three big games next year, with NSW to play Queensland, defending champions the Crusaders, and a Quade Cooper-led Melbourne Rebels at the SCG.
NSW’s final three games of the regular season will be played at the newly built Western Sydney Stadium, while their opener will be at Brookvale Oval against the Hurricanes, and the match against Japan’s Sunwolves in Newcastle.
The three games at the SCG will be played on a field facing east to west, rotated 90 degrees from the usual north-south view that fans saw when NSW hosted Queensland this year.
This artist’s impression shows what the new view will look like for fans sitting in the Trumper Stand towards the southern end of the ground.
Expanding their visibility to country towns who missed out on 2019 games will be part of discussions so long as they meet SANZAAR standards, Waratahs chief executive Andrew Hore said.
“This year because of the time frames it was harder in some ways [to consider country areas] because that’s going to take a lot more scope and a lot more work,” Hore said.
“We need to be cognisant of that because we needed members and potential members and our playing fraternity to have it bedded down where we’re going to play.”
Waratahs’ 2019 home games
Saturday, February 16 v Hurricanes, Brookvale Oval
Saturday, March 9 v Queensland Reds, SCG
Saturday, March 23 v Crusaders, SCG
Friday, March 29 v Sunwolves, Newcastle
Saturday, April 20 v Melbourne Rebels, SCG
Saturday, April 27 v Sharks, Western Sydney Stadium
Saturday, May 25 v Jaguares, Western Sydney Stadium
Saturday, June 8 v Brumbies, Western Sydney Stadium
Get every game of the 2018 Mitsubishi Estate Rugby Championship LIVE into your living room. SIGN UP TODAY!
Originally published as Sydney’s west first, then country towns the plan for NSW Waratahs
Why ‘bittersweet’ move could secure Shute Shield club’s future
A planning meeting on Monday shapes as a crucial moment in the history of one of the Shute Shield’s most successful clubs, as Eastwood looks to a brighter future. This is why.
Wallaby returns for Reds
The Queensland Reds will receive a welcome boost ahead of their important Super Rugby Pacific clash against Fijian Drua on Saturday night.