One venue will host 10 teams and five matches in a Super Rugby super round next year

One venue will host 10 Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby teams for five matches in a “super round” in the new competition next year.

The Brumbies celebrate winning the Super Rugby AU Grand Final in September. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Melbourne Rebels will put their hands up to host a five-match Trans Tasman “super round” at AAMI Park in 2021 after the five-round crossover fixture for the new competition was confirmed on Monday.

The Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby teams will face off at home and away, with matches at AAMI Park (Melbourne), Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane), HBF Park (Perth) and GIO Stadium (Canberra) as well as across the ditch.

The NSW Waratahs are yet to confirm their playing venue for all of 2021 after a nomadic 2020 season in which they played at the SCG, Manly, Bankwest Stadium as well as Wollongong and Newcastle.

It’s believed their venues will be locked in by January.

The “super round” is set for the third of the five rounds, and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane is the other potential venue for the full weekend of matches starting Friday, May 28.

Suncorp will be empty across that weekend with the Brisbane Broncos set to play reigning NRL premiers the Melbourne Storm on Thursday night.

A Melbourne Victory A-League match is set to be played at AAMI Park on May 28, but the Rebels will be keen to do what they can to host the five-match round given local fans saw zero live games in 2020.

There will be a selection process for the host venue with applications to be tendered this week.

Rebels officials remain in talks with the state government about the potential for full stands by the time the first Super Rugby AU home game comes around on March 6.

🏟️ Kick off times and locations are confirmed for Super Rugby Trans-Tasman!

READ MORE: https://t.co/ZjXfofuZen pic.twitter.com/AeIDLOiqtR

— Rugby Australia (@RugbyAU) December 13, 2020

The biggest crowds for both Super Rugby and NRL games in Melbourne are always when the Kiwi teams come to town.

Rugby Australia interim chief executive, Rob Clarke said the trans-Tasman draw was a “step in the right direction for our game”.

“It’s a brand-new competition which will generate renewed excitement and reignite many historic rivalries,” he said.

“The super round is a fantastic and innovative addition; we will shortly be launching a host selection process and I have no doubt it will become one of the hottest tickets in town.”

Rebels chief executive Baden Stephenson said taking on Super Rugby powerhouse the Crusaders in Melbourne next year was huge for his club.

“Taking on the best team in the history of Super Rugby on a beautiful winter’s afternoon in the world’s sporting capital is going to be something,” he said.

The Melbourne Rebels will take on the Crusaders at AAMI Park in 2021 in Melbourne. Picture: AAP Image/Joe Castro

Trans-Tasman Super Rugby draw

Round One

Highlanders v Queensland Reds, Friday 14 May, Dunedin, 5:05pm

NSW Waratahs v Hurricanes, Friday 14 May, TBC, 7:45pm

Crusaders v Brumbies, Saturday 15 May, Christchurch, 5:05pm

Melbourne Rebels v Blues, Saturday 15 May, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 7:45pm

Western Force v Chiefs, Saturday 15 May, HBF Park, Perth, 9:55pm

Round Two

Hurricanes v Melbourne Rebels, Friday 21 May, Wellington, 5:05pm

Western Force v Highlanders, Friday 21 May, HBF Park, Perth, 7:45pm

Blues v NSW Waratahs, Saturday 22 May, Auckland, 2:35pm

Chiefs v Brumbies, Saturday 22 May, Hamilton, 5:05pm

Queensland Reds v Crusaders, Saturday 22 May, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 7:45pm

Round Three – Super Round

Brumbies v Blues

Hurricanes v Western Force

Melbourne Rebels v Highlanders

Queensland Reds v Chiefs

NSW Waratahs v Crusaders

Round Four

Crusaders v Western Force, Friday 4 June, Christchurch, 5:05pm

Queensland Reds v Blues, Friday 4 June, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 7:45pm

Chiefs v Melbourne Rebels, Saturday 5 June, Hamilton, 2:35pm

Highlanders v NSW Waratahs, Saturday 5 June, Dunedin, 5:05pm

Brumbies v Hurricanes, Saturday 5 June, GIO Stadium, Canberra, 7:45pm

Round Five

Hurricanes v Queensland Reds, Friday 11 June, Wellington, 5:05pm

Brumbies v Highlanders, Friday 11 June, GIO Stadium, Canberra, 7:45pm

Melbourne Rebels v Crusaders, Saturday 12 June, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 2:35pm

Blues v Western Force, Saturday 12 June, Auckland, 5:05pm

NSW Waratahs v Chiefs, Saturday 12 June, TBC, 7:45pm

Final

Saturday 19 June 2021