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ugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby have announced a Super Rugby Trans-Tasman crossover competition in 2021, which is set to follow their respective domestic Super Rugby tournaments.

The Trans-Tasman competition will feature all 10 Super Rugby teams with each Australian team to play each New Zealand team in 25 crossover matches before the final.

Off the back of a lucrative broadcast deal with Nine, all 26 matches in the tournament will be live and on demand, ad-free, as part of a new add-on sports package which will become available on Stan in 2021.

A selected match during each week of the tournament will also be simulcast live free-to-air on the Nine network.

Rugby Australia interim chief executive, Rob Clarke, said: “This is a truly historic day for Rugby in the southern hemisphere, with the first-ever Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby competition.

“This will generate enormous excitement across both countries with some of the best players in the world set to challenge each other after the conclusion of Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa.

“It will be a really exciting new product for our 2021 broadcast partners, Stan and Nine, and I know fans right around the world will be glued to their screens and devices to watch it all.

“The Super Round is also great initiative with one lucky city to host all 10 teams on one weekend in a Super Rugby extravaganza,” he said.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive, Mark Robinson, said: “Super Rugby Trans-Tasman is a great result for fans on both sides of the Tasman and is testament to the strength of the relationship between New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia.”

“It’s been a testing time for rugby in both countries, but also a chance to re-imagine the game in our part of the world for 2021.

“The result is an exciting and innovative new competition, which will benefit fans, players, broadcasters and Super clubs.

“We all know how special the rivalry between New Zealand and Australia is when it comes to sport and this tournament will add another exciting chapter,” he said.

The competition will kick-off on May 14, 2021, with the final to be played June 19, 2021.