2013 Vodacom Super Rugby draw

Vodacom Super Rugby makes its long-awaited return to the Eastern Cape on 23 February next year when the Southern Kings host Australia’s Western Force (kick off 19h10) in the final match of the first full round.
The Southern Kings kick off their debut season in the tournament at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth at the end of a round otherwise studded with conference derbies.
Vodacom Super Rugby was last played in the region 13 years ago. The Coastal Sharks played one match in Port Elizabeth in 1998 and a second in 1999 as well as one match in East London in the latter year.
Last season’s finalists, The Sharks, travel to Bloemfontein to meet the Toyota Cheetahs (kick off 17h05) while the season opens in South Africa with the North-South derby at Loftus Versfeld with the Vodacom Bulls hosting 2012 conference winners, the DHL Stormers.
The fixtures were announced by SANZAR today (Friday) in a new-look draw which features a staggered start, and staggered resumption after the June internationals, to accommodate the British & Irish Lions’ tour of Australia.
The Australian teams kick off one week earlier, and close one week later, as well as resuming two weeks later in July after the international window, in order to manage the extended Lions’ schedule.
South Africa’s Conference is unaffected with the Kings going into the bye week SA’s first round and then hosting The Sharks in the third round of South African action.
They then host the champion Chiefs in round five before heading overseas for the first time for matches against the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Brumbies and Rebels.
The Sharks have their first home match in South Africa’s second round when they face the DHL Stormers, who play their first home match in Cape Town on March 9.
The tournament actually kicks off on February 15 but only Australian Conference teams will be in action. The same will occur in round 17 (just before the Vodacom Super Rugby season ‘breaks’ for the June inbounds), while rounds 18 and 19 (after the break) will feature only New Zealand and South African Conference teams.
“The Lions tour to Australia presented some unique challenges in preparing the 2013 Super Rugby draw,” SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said.
“We are very appreciative of the cooperation we received from the National Unions and broadcasters in preparing this draw and working through the issues.”
Peters said there was much excitement building despite being months out.
“Over the last two seasons we have seen two franchises – the Reds and the Chiefs –win the Super Rugby trophy for the first time,” Peters said.
“The emphasis in early rounds is again on local derbies that have again proven to be the most watched and attended matches in 2012.”
There is Sunday play in 2013 with the Blues hosting the Bulls in round four, while the Waratahs will host consecutive Sunday fixtures in rounds six and seven – with the Crusaders, Brumbies and Force other teams to play on the last day of the weekend throughout the season.
Peters said the draw would build on the successes of 2012.
“The 2012 Super Rugby season was the most watched season of Super Rugby ever, both in terms of those attending matches live and also viewing on television. The 2013 draw will hopefully see us grow those numbers again,” he said.
The Vodacom Super Rugby Finals Series starts on Friday, 19 July, with the Super Rugby Qualifiers scheduled for that weekend – while the Super Rugby Semi-Finals will take place on 26 / 27 July, with the Super Rugby Final to be played on Saturday, 3 August.
Click here for the 2013 Vodacom Super Rugby draw.
PLEASE NOTE:
• This is the first schedule, with some New Zealand venues and Rebels v Chiefs date still to be finalised. An update will be provided when all venues and timings have been confirmed. Please visit sanzarrugby.com for the latest 2013 schedule.
• The season runs from February 15, 2012 until the Vodacom Super Rugby Final on August 3, 2012.
• The season break for New Zealand and South African teams will begin after round 16 concludes on June 1, 2013.
• Round 17 will only see Australian Conference sides in action, with the Brumbies hosting the Rebels on Friday, 7 June and the Force hosting the Waratahs Sunday, 9 June. The touring British and Irish Lions will play the Reds that weekend, after opening their proceedings against the Force on Wednesday, 5 June.
• The season will consist of 125 matches.
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