Super Rugby AU

Super Rugby AU (branded as Vodafone Super Rugby AU for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby union competition organised by Rugby Australia. The competition will supplant the 2020 Super Rugby season, which had been suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic (and, in particular, travel restrictions imposed by Australia). The competition, will feature the four Super Rugby teams from the Australian conference, with the addition of Western Force, in a round-robin tournament over a 12-week period, made up of 10 rounds, a qualifying final and a final.

Super Rugby AU
Official Logo
CountriesAustralia
Tournament format(s)Round-robin tournament
Official websiteOfficial site

The competition was announced on 12 May,[1] with the first round set to commence on 3 July, making it the third sport to return in Australia (behind AFL and NRL) and just the second rugby union competition to return. Initially, all games will be behind-closed-doors, with decision to allow crowds under review.[2]

Media coverage

Television

All matches are televised live by affiliate partners Fox Sports.

Corporate relations

Sponsorship

The tournament is run by Rugby Australia with the sponsorship of Foxtel which provides television coverage on its Fox Sports channels with Vodafone (Australia) being the naming rights sponsor. Gilbert is the official supplier of all rugby balls.

Merchandising

Official match day attire together with other club merchandise is sold through the Super Rugby AU's stores and website as well through the clubs and through some retailers.

Law adaptions

On 12 June, Rugby Australia announced seven law trials designed to make the game more entertaining for the fans and players.[3] The trials were adapted from the 10 optional law trials available for unions and competitions given by World Rugby in May 2020.[4] The following trials will be used during the competition:

Law trials Scenario
Goal line drop-out When an attacking player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal or knocks the ball on play restarts with a goal line drop-out.
When a kick enters the in-goal area and is forced by the defending team play restarts with a goal line drop-out
Mark A kick originating in the attacking 22m area cannot be marked by the defending team within their own 22m area. The kick can however be marked within the defending team’s in-goal area and play restarts with a 22m line drop-out.
Red card change A red carded player can be replaced after 20 minutes, unless all substitutions have been used.
50/22 A kick taken from within the defending team’s 50m area that travels into touch within the opposition’s 22m area having first bounced in the field of play results in a line-out throw to the kicking team. This does not apply following a free-kick.
22/50 A kick taken from within the defending team’s 22m area that travels into touch within the opposition’s 50m area having first bounced in the field of play results in a line-out throw to the kicking team. This does not apply following a free-kick.
Super Time 2 x 5min periods of extra time; in the event of a drawn game after regulation time where the first points scored wins the match for the scoring team

Standings
Table
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Brumbies000000+000000
2 Rebels000000+000000
3 Reds000000+000000
4 Waratahs000000+000000
5 Western Force000000+000000
Points allocation

  • 4 points to the winning team
  • 2 points to each team if neither team scores during extra time
  • 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
  • 1 bonus point to any team scoring three tries or more than the opposition

Matches

Round 1
3 July 2020
19:05
Reds v Waratahs
4 July 2020
19:15
Brumbies v Rebels

Round 2
10 July 2020
19:05
Rebels v Reds
11 July 2020
19:15
Waratahs v Western Force

Round 3
17 July 2020
19:05
Reds v Western Force
18 July 2020
19:15
Waratahs v Brumbies

Round 4
24 July 2020
19:05
Rebels v Waratahs
25 July 2020
19:15
Western Force v Brumbies
TBA

Round 5
31 July 2020
19:05
Western Force v Rebels
1 August 2020
19:15
Brumbies v Reds

Round 6
7 August 2020
19:05
Rebels v Brumbies
8 August 2020
19:15
Waratahs v Reds
TBA

Round 7
14 August 2020
19:05
Western Force v Waratahs
15 August 2020
19:15
Reds v Rebels

Round 8
21 August 2020
19:05
Western Force v Reds
22 August 2020
19:15
Brumbies v Waratahs

Round 9
28 August 2020
19:05
Brumbies v Western Force
29 August 2020
19:15
Waratahs v Rebels
TBA

Round 10
4 September 2020
19:05
Rebels v Western Force
5 September 2020
19:15
Reds v Brumbies

Qualifying final
12 September 2020
2nd Seed v 3rd Seed
TBD

Final
19 September 2020
1st Seed v Winner qualifying final
TBD

Squads

Notes
  • ^1 Subject to WA Government guidelines

See also

References
  1. "Suncorp Stadium derby to open Super Rugby AU competition". Rugby Australia. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  2. "PM opens door for Super Rugby AU crowds". Rugby Australia. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  3. "Super Rugby AU to introduce a host of law trials". Rugby Australia. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  4. "World Rugby creates access to optional domestic law trials to further reduce COVID-19 risk". World Rugby. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
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