A trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition for 2021 has been confirmed.
Photo: Photosport
The six-week competition, which relied on Covid-19 quarantines not being necessary in either country by May next year, involving all five teams from either country was announced by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and Rugby Australia (RA) on Friday.
Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, as it was being called, would kick off on May 14, immediately after the two countries respective domestic Super competitions.
The confirmation of the tournament came after a fractious few months between administrators on either side of the Tasman, during which RA chairman Hamish McLennan described the relationship as being at its "lowest ebb".
NZR boss Mark Robinson said, despite all the back and forth, the new competition was "testament to the strength of the relationship" between the two organisations.
"There's huge benefits to both countries to working together really closely in this space.
"We've been really commmited for some time to reach a competition format which can work for both countries and our clubs, and most importantly the fans."
The Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders would play five matches against the Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force, including two home matches each in New Zealand.
All Kiwi teams would also play two away matches, while their fifth would be part of a 'Super Round' featuring all round three matches being played at one location, over one weekend.
The competition wrapped up with a final on 19 June between the top two teams on the combined competition ladder after the five weeks of matches, with the team who finished first earning home advantage for the decider.
Robinson felt the 'Super Round' was a great initiaive.
"We think it will bring a huge amount of interest to the competition itself.
"It will also be a massive opportunity for cities and regions across Australasia about pitching something to the competition to look for the opportunity to stage that.
"We're not wedded to any solution or destination yet but we'll be getting into that work very soon."
NZR and RA said they would announce kick-off times, dates and venues, as well as the process that would be used to select the location of the 'Super Round', in due course.
RA interim chief executive Rob Clarke said the annoucnement was a historic day for rugby in the southern hemisphere, with the first-ever Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby competition.
"This will generate enormous excitement across both countries with some of the best players in the world set to challenge each other after the conclusion of Super Rugby AU and Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa.
"I'd like to thank Mark Robinson and his team at New Zealand Rugby for working so closely with us."
