Chiefs to play Reds in preseason only...

    The St.George Queensland Reds return to Toowoomba in 2014 to take on two-time Super Rugby champions the Chiefs in a trial match on Saturday, 8 February. With the Reds and Chiefs not scheduled to meet in the Super Rugby regular season, this may be your only chance to see the two sides clash in 2014. This is the second year in a row the Reds have played a pre-season fixture in Toowoomba and provides another exciting opportunity to see running Rugby against quality opposition. The Chiefs are a quality opposition, having won the competition for the last two years, and will be a great challenge for the Reds in their first hit out of the year.    

The new Super Rugby season will start in South Africa with the Cheetahs hosting the Lions in Bloemfontein on Saturday, February 15.

Lions fans won't have to wait long to see their newly-promoted team in action at Free State Stadium at 17:05 local (04:05 NZDT, 02:05 AEDT), while the Sharks play host to the Bulls at Kings Park from 19:10 (06:10 NZDT, 04:10 AEDT).

Defending-champions the Chiefs start their bid for a third successive Super Rugby title when they visit the Crusaders in a blockbuster clash to open Round 2 that sees the Australian and New Zealand franchises begin their campaigns.

 

The Highlanders and the Blues meet in Dunedin on Saturday, February 22 - in a clash that precedes the first Australian match between the Brumbies and Reds later that evening in Canberra.

 

The Stormers get their campaign underway with a visit to the Lions after a bye in the opening week and the Hurricanes begin their season on the road as they head to Durban to face the Sharks in the sole cross-conference clash of the opening fortnight.

 

Sydney gets an early taste of Super Rugby action as the Waratahs host the Force while the Rebels will be chomping at the bit to get their campaign underway on February 28 as they start at home against the Cheetahs following a Round 2 bye.

 

After falling just shy of their maiden title in 2013, the Brumbies will have April 25 circled for when the Chiefs are scheduled to visit the Australian capital as Anzac Day rugby features for the first time on the Super Rugby calendar since 2009.

The Blues and Waratahs commence Round 11 proceedings in New Zealand with a twilight kick-off on Anzac Day before the Highlanders visit the Sharks to round out the Friday triple-header across all three territories.

 

The Super Rugby Finals Series will occur over three weeks commencing on Friday July 18, culminating with the crowning of the 2014 champion on Saturday August 2.

"With the draw now confirmed, teams and fans alike can start preparing for what promises to be another exciting Super Rugby season," said SANZAR Chief Executive, Greg Peters.

 

"Local derbies remain the preeminent focus of the early rounds as they have proven to be tremendous drawcards to establish early momentum and start the competition with the tribalism and passion that Super Rugby is renowned for.

 

Planet Rugby