Super Rugby set for early start

Super Rugby set for early start

28 Jul 2012

Australia are lobbying for an earlier start to the 2013 Super Rugby season in order to accommodate the British & Irish Lions tour.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the ARU wants the 2013 tournament to start at least a week earlier. If they are successful in this bid, the competition is likely to start around 16 February, with only the Australian franchises featuring in Round 1.

‘It is unambiguously challenging to accommodate the Lions tour,’ said ARU chief executive John O’Neill. ‘South Africa and New Zealand have to come along with agreement to some compromises. We’re nearly there. In four years time, New Zealand will be in our shoes. So we’ve all got to give a bit every four years, and I’m sure our SANZAR partners will be willing to compromise.’

The Lions will play the Wallabies in Brisbane on 22 June, Melbourne (29 June) and Sydney (6 July). They will also play the Force, Reds, a combined NSW-Queensland Country line-up, Waratahs, Brumbies and Rebels.


7 Comments

  • 1.uhuru: Reply to this comment
    28 Jul 2012, 09:53 am

    Only if we’re allowed to let the Kings play in the place of the Force

  • 2.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    28 Jul 2012, 10:45 am

    Heavy schedule

  • 3.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    28 Jul 2012, 11:13 am

    WHAT BS!!!

    If they’re not happy, they can withdraw the players they require from SR duty.

    Hope Hoskins and co. don’t bow to their demands. Why the FARK are we letting Australia dictate terms. They’re the smallest market of the SANZAR partners.

    Tell them to shove it.

  • 4.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    28 Jul 2012, 11:15 am

    16 Feb, imagine that in Durban. 45 degrees and wetter than a Mexican at the border

  • 5.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    28 Jul 2012, 12:48 pm

    Shove it?

    Ag shame.

    Die HenDruk maar die eier wil nie kom nie…

  • 6.HongKongSlong: Reply to this comment
    28 Jul 2012, 15:03 pm

    Hope the British Lions are insisting that the Wallabies play for their franchises as well. Its absolute BS playing against the Reds without Genia and Quade, Force without Pocock etc.
    I see nothing wrong with the Aussies getting off to an early start and playing with themselves….

  • 7.David: Reply to this comment
    28 Jul 2012, 15:08 pm

    @HongKongSlong-6:
    I doubt it, as they’ll be the midweek games and they won’t play their Wallabies 3 days before a test.
    As for the early start, it’s only the Aussie franchises that will play each other in the first week, and doesn’t affect anyone else.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.