2021 Super Rugby draw: NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds to kick-off new season

The Super Rugby AU draw has been released for next year and will begin with the traditional Queensland-NSW rivalry at Suncorp Stadium. READ THE FULL DRAW

Jack Maddocks of the NSW Waratahs makes a pass during the Super Rugby AU match between the Western Force. Picture: Getty Images

Suliasi Vunivalu will be unleashed by Queensland against NSW in the first round of Super Rugby 2021 on February 19.

The Super Rugby AU draw has been released for next year and will begin with the traditional Queensland-NSW rivalry at Suncorp Stadium, while Western Force will host defending champions the Brumbies on the same day.

The grand final will be played on May 8, after which it is expected a trans-Tasman tournament will be held against New Zealand Super Rugby sides.

Watch every match of the 2020 Tri Nations Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

The Waratahs and Queensland Reds will kick-off the 2021 Super Rugby season on February 19. Picture: AFP

Super Rugby AU starts a week earlier than Super Rugby Aotearoa, but the Australian version has an additional qualifying final, while the Kiwis go straight to a grand final, so both competitions will finish on the same date.

NRL convert Vunivalu has been drafted into the Wallabies squad this week, however it is expected he’ll only train and not be blooded into the Test arena by coach Dave Rennie until next year.

If so, his first professional match is expected to be on Friday, February 19 against the Tahs, with Vunivalu signed to the Reds for two seasons.

That Reds-Tahs match is likely to be the first Super Rugby match ever broadcast on free-to-air, after Nine Entertainment purchased the rights for the game in a $100 million, three-year deal announced on Monday.

After the initial Friday night double-header, the season will move to having one game played on Friday night, and the other on Saturday night.

The Friday night games will be behind the Stan Sports streaming paywall, while the Saturday games will be shown free-to-air on Nine as well as on Stan.

Former Storm star Suliasi Vunivalu will line-up for the Reds against the Waratahs in the season opener. Picture: Michael Klein

2021 SUPER RUGBY DRAW

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.

The Reds and Brumbies will clash in a rematch of this year’s grand final in Round 4, in Canberra, on March 13. Picture: Getty Images

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.

*All kick-off times to be confirmed

MORE RUGBY

Rugby’s heavyweight NRL ally in new broadcast deal

Swinton red card puts rugby at a crossroads

Originally published as 2021 Super Rugby draw: NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds to kick-off new season