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