2010 Super 14 Draw

    Submitted by Webmaster on 8 September 2009 - 4:52pm

    The 2010 Investec Super 14 will kick off next February with two Australian local derbies delivering a “Rivalry Round” for homegrown fans in week one of the hugely-popular southern hemisphere provincial series.

    Traditional antagonists the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs will do battle in Brisbane on Saturday, 13 February. The match will be the first for Berrick Barnes in a NSW jumper and it happens to be against his native state having decided to move from the Reds to the Waratahs for next season.

    In another round one showdown, the Western Force will host the Brumbies in Perth on Friday, 12 February.

    The Brumbies will have Matt Giteau returning to their ranks after his stint with the Force in Perth, providing a further edge to the game.

    For the Waratahs and Brumbies, the week one matches against fellow Australian sides will be followed by road trips to South Africa where both teams will play the Bulls and Stormers during weeks two and three.

    The Reds, however, will play their first three matches at home against the Waratahs and New Zealand sides the Crusaders and Blues.

    The Queenslanders will also play away from home just once in the opening six weeks when they travel to Hamilton in round four to take on the Chiefs.

    The Force have only two away games in the first eight weeks, and have two blockbusters back-to-back in Perth against the Waratahs and defending champions the Bulls from South Africa in weeks six and seven.

    Other Australian local derbies during the season include:

    • Queensland Reds v Western Force in Brisbane on Sunday, 14 March
    • Western Force v NSW Waratahs in Perth on Saturday, 20 March
    • NSW Waratahs v Brumbies in Sydney on Saturday, 24 April
    • Brumbies v Queensland Reds in Canberra on Saturday, 1 May

    “Having two all-Australian matches to start the season is extremely appealing,” said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill.

    “There is nothing like local derbies to drive interest heading into the season and to whet the appetites of fans and viewers – not to mention players who love the bragging rights associated with the results of those matches.

    “Next season will also be the last for Super Rugby in its current format with expansion to 15 teams and a three-conference system from 2011.

    “One thing, however, will remain constant. Super Rugby is a competition boasting the best players in the world. The IRB rankings, with South Africa, New Zealand and Australia filling the top three spots, are evidence of that.”

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