Super Rugby AU
Super Rugby AU is a rugby union competition organised by Rugby Australia. The competition supplants the 2020 Super Rugby season, which had been suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition, features the four Australian 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.
The competition was announced on 12 May, with the first round commencing on 3 July, making it the third sport to return in Australia and just the second rugby union competition to return. Initially, all games will be behind-closed-doors, with decision to allow crowds under review.
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 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. The trials were adapted from the 10 optional law trials available for unions and competitions given by World Rugby in May 2020. 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. |
| 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
Matches
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Qualifying final
Final
Squads
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