2020 Super Rugby AU season

The 2020 Super Rugby AU season (branded as Vodafone Super Rugby AU for sponsorship reasons) was a professional club rugby union tournament organised by Rugby Australia. Sponsored by communications company Vodafone, the tournament replaced the Australian component of the incomplete 2020 Super Rugby season that was shut down in March of that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It featured the four teams from the 2020 Australian conference, with the addition of former Super Rugby franchise the Western Force.^[1]

2020 Super Rugby AU season
Countries	Australia
Tournament format(s)	Round-robin and knockout6
Champions	Brumbies
Matches played	22
Attendance	65,104 (2,959 per match)
Tries scored	125 (5.68 per match)
Top point scorer(s)	James O'Connor, Reds (102)
Top try scorer(s)	Filipo Daugunu, Reds (6)
Official website	Official site
(Next) 2021 →

The tournament was the inaugural season of Super Rugby AU and ran from 3 July to 19 September 2020.^[1]

Law adaptions

On 12 June, Rugby Australia announced seven law trials designed to make the game more entertaining for the fans and players.^[2] The trials were adapted from the 10 optional law trials available for unions and competitions given by World Rugby in May 2020.^[3] 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.
	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

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Brumbies (Q)	8	6	0	2	189	147	+42	30	16	4	0	28
2	Reds (Q)	8	5	1	2	215	150	+65	28	19	2	1	25
3	Rebels (Q)	8	4	1	3	194	178	+16	21	24	0	1	19
4	Waratahs	8	4	0	4	204	189	+15	22	23	1	2	19
5	Force	8	0	0	8	115	253	−138	15	33	0	3	3

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification:

• 4 points to the winning team
• 2 points to each team if neither team scores during extra time
• 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
• 1 bonus point to any team scoring three tries or more than the opposition

Matches

Round 1

3 July 2020 19:05

Reds	32–26	Waratahs (1 BP)
Try: Wright 6' Daugunu 18' McDermott 29' Wilson 64' Con: Hegarty (3/4) 7', 30', 65' Pen: O'Connor (2/2) 76', 80+1' Cards: Tupou  67'	Report	Try: Johnson-Holmes 10' Maddocks 48' Con: Harrison (2/2) 11', 49' Pen: Harrison (4/4) 34', 40', 43', 68' Cards: Bell  29'

Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 5,590[4] Referee: Nic Berry

4 July 2020 19:15

(1 BP) Brumbies	31–23	Rebels
Try: Muirhead 3' Powell 27' Fainga'a 37' Wright 44' Miller 77' Con: Lolesio (3/5) 5', 39', 79'	Report	Try: Uelese 58' D. Haylett-Petty 63' Con: To'omua (2/2) 59', 65' Pen: To'omua (3/4) 9', 24', 71'

GIO Stadium Attendance: 1,460[5] Referee: Angus Gardner

Round 2

10 July 2020 19:05

Rebels	18–18 (a.e.t.)	Reds
Try: Hodge 54' Meakes 68' Con: To'omua (1/2) 69' Pen: To'omua (2/2) 7', 40+2'	Report	Try: Daugunu 44' Mafi 79' Con: O'Connor (1/2) 80+1' Pen: O'Connor (2/2) 51', 75'

Brookvale Oval1 Referee: Damon Murphy

11 July 2020 19:15

Waratahs	23–14	Force
Try: Bell 40' Staniforth 62' Con: Harrison (2/2) 40+2', 64' Pen: Harrison (3/3) 46', 60', 74'	Report	Try: Ralston 29' Pen: Prior (3/3) 14', 33', 37'

Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 1,793[6] Referee: Angus Gardner

Round 3

17 July 2020 19:05

Reds	31–24	Force (1 BP)
Try: Paenga-Amosa 19' Campbell 23' Tupou 27' Daugunu 45' Con: O'Connor (4/4) 20', 24', 28', 46' Drop: O'Connor 79' Cards: Paisami  70'	Report	Try: McGregor 11' Ralston (2) 14', 39' Ready 70' Con: Prior (2/2) 13', 15'

Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 6,890[7] Referee: Nic Berry

18 July 2020 19:15

(1 BP) Waratahs	23–24	Brumbies
Try: Horton 24' Ramm 29' Con: Harrison (2/2) 25', 30' Pen: Harrison (3/4) 10', 15', 50'	Report	Try: Cusack 5' Fainga'a 34' Valetini 37' Fines 77' Con: Kuenzle (2/3) 38', 79' Cards: Muirhead  21'

ANZ Stadium Attendance: 1,976[6] Referee: Angus Gardner

Round 4

24 July 2020 19:05

Waratahs	10–29	Rebels
Try: Newsome 7' Con: Harrison (1/1) 9' Pen: Harrison (1/1) 23' Cards: Hooper  31' Holloway  70'	Report	Try: Louwrens 38' Koroibete 78' Con: To'omua (2/2) 39', 78' Pen: To'omua (5/5) 4', 11', 15', 31', 71'

Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 1,620[6] Referee: Angus Gardner

25 July 2020 19:15

Force	0–24	Brumbies (1 BP)
	Report	Try: Wright 2' Simone 6' Miller 43' McInerney 66' Con: Kuenzle (2/4) 7', 45'

Leichhardt Oval2 Attendance: 253[6] Referee: Damon Murphy

Round 5

31 July 2020 19:05

(1 BP) Force	20–25 (a.e.t.)	Rebels
Try: Lee-Warner 27' Ralston 57' Con: Lance (2/2) 28', 58' Pen: Lance (2/3) 12', 64' Cards: Thrush  50'	Report	Try: Uelese 30' Philip 60' Naisarani 82' Con: To'omua (2/2) 32', 61' Pen: To'omua (1/1) 53' Hodge (1/2) 40+4' Cards: Naisarani  25'

Leichhardt Oval2 Attendance: 358[6] Referee: Angus Gardner

1 August 2020 19:15

Brumbies	22–20	Reds (1 BP)
Try: Fainga'a (2) 6', 33' McInerney 75' Con: Kuenzle (2/2) 7', 35' Pen: Hansen (1/1) 80+3'	Report	Try: Wilson 43' Scott-Young 46' Con: O'Connor (2/2) 44', 47' Pen: O'Connor (2/3) 39', 50'

GIO Stadium Attendance: 1,525[6] Referee: Nic Berry

Round 6

7 August 2020 19:05

Rebels	30–12	Brumbies
Try: Hodge (2) 3', 23' Wilkin 16' Uelese 38' Con: To'omua (2/4) 17', 39' Pen: To'omua (2/2) 32', 53'	Report	Try: Powell 18' Miller 80' Con: Kuenzle (1/1) 20' Cards: Cusack  40+1'

Liechhardt Oval3 Attendance: Closed Event[6] Referee: Graham Cooper

8 August 2020 19:15

(1 BP) Waratahs	45–12	Reds
Try: Gordon (3) 10', 17', 27' Maddocks 24' Newsome 35' Horton 52' Con: Harrison (5/5) 11', 18', 25', 29', 36' Donaldson (1/1) 53' Pen: Harrison (1/1) 5'	Report	Try: Hardy 54' O'Connor 80+2' Con: O'Connor (1/2) 80+3' Cards: Zane Nonggorr  77'

Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 1,770[6] Referee: Damon Murphy

Round 7

14 August 2020 19:05

Force	8–28	Waratahs
Try: Stander 15' Pen: Prior 28'	Report	Try: Newsome 35' Maddocks 45' Johnson-Holmes 80' Con: Harrison (2/2) 36', 46' Pen: Harrison (3/3) 9', 20', 32'

Cbus Super Stadium4 Attendance: 569[6] Referee: Nic Berry

15 August 2020 19:15

(1 BP) Reds	19–3	Rebels
Try: Petaia 14' Paenga-Amosa 28' Stewart 73' Con: O'Connor (2/3) 15', 29' Cards: Paenga-Amosa  70'	Report	Pen: To'omua (1/1) 8'

Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 6,131[6] Referee: Damon Murphy

Round 8

21 August 2020 19:05

Force	5–57	Reds (1 BP)
Try: Ready 43' Cards: Longbottom  53'	Report	Try: Daugunu (2) 16', 29' McReight 55' McDermott (2) 59', 64' O'Connor 70' Hegarty 73' Tualima 80' Con: O'Connor (7/8) 17', 57', 61', 65', 71', 74', 80' Pen: O'Connor (1/1) 38'

Cbus Super Stadium4 Attendance: 1,575[6] Referee: Jordan Way

22 August 2020 19:15

(1 BP) Brumbies	38–11	Waratahs
Try: R. Lonergan 15' Muirhead 24' Samu (2) 46', 73' Wright (2) 53', 58' Con: R. Lonergan (2/3) 16', 47' Kuenzle (2/3) 54', 73'	Report	Try: Dempsey 37' Pen: Harrison (2/2) 19', 29'

GIO Stadium Attendance: 1,281[6] Referee: Angus Gardner

Round 9

28 August 2020 19:05

(1 BP) Brumbies	31–14	Force
Try: Wright 32' Banks 39' Miller 51' Ikitau 65' Muirhead 75' Con: Kuenzle (3/5) 52', 66', 76'	Report	Try: Lee-Warner 9' Lance 55' Con: Prior (2/2) 11', 57'

GIO Stadium Attendance: 2,209[6] Referee: Amy Perrett

29 August 2020 19:15

(1 BP) Rebels	32–38	Waratahs
Try: To'omua 37' Naisarani (2) 46', 72' Koroibete 62' Con: To'omua (3/4) 39', 47', 64' Pen: To'omua (2/3) 3', 78' Cards: Philip  65'	Report	Try: Gordon 7' Dempsey 23' Johnson-Holmes 49' Walton 56' Harrison 74' Con: Harrison (5/5) 8', 23', 50', 57', 75' Pen: Harrison (1/1) 40' Cards: Hanigan  37'

Leichhardt Oval3 Attendance: 1,758[6] Referee: Graham Cooper

Round 10 – Super Saturday

5 September 2020 17:05

Rebels	34–30	Force (1 BP)
Try: Pincus 18' Hodge 28' D. Haylett-Petty 59' Eloff 79' Con: To'omua (4/4) 18', 30', 61', 80' Pen: To'omua (2/2) 24', 26' Cards: Pincus  56'	Report	Try: Taefu 20' Ready (2) 40', 44' Stander 58' Con: Prior (2/4) 45', 59' Pen: Prior (2/2) 9', 56' Cards: Ralston  61' Lee-Warner  75'

McDonald Jones Stadium5 Attendance: 817[6] Referee: Angus Gardner

5 September 2020 19:15

Reds	26–7	Brumbies
Try: Wright 6' Feauai-Sautia 36' McDermott 76' Con: O'Connor (1/2) 38' Pen: O'Connor (3/3) 18', 31', 66'	Report	Try: Samu 40' Con: Kuenzle (1/1) 40'

Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 9,922[8] Referee: Nic Berry

Qualifying final

12 September 2020 19:15

Reds	25–13	Rebels
Try: Petaia 9' Salakaia-Loto 44' Daugunu 75' Con: O'Connor (2/3) 10', 46' Pen: O'Connor (2/3) 25', 58'	Report	Try: Koroibete 40' Con: To'omua (1/1) 40' Pen: To'omua (1/1) 17' Hodge (1/1) 54'

Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 11,607[6] Referee: Nic Berry

Final

19 September 2020 19:15

Brumbies	28–23	Reds
Try: Fainga'a 17' Muirhead 26' Banks 45' Con: Lolesio (2/3) 18', 47' Pen: Lolesio (2/3) 5', 55' Drop: Lolesio 49'	Report Summary	Try: Wilson 31' Blyth 64' Con: O'Connor (2/2) 32', 65' Pen: O'Connor (3/3) 13', 40+2', 59' Cards: Daugunu  50'

GIO Stadium Attendance: 6,000[6] Referee: Angus Gardner

Brumbies

Reds

FB 15 Tom Banks RW 14 Andy Muirhead  59' OC 13 Tevita Kuridrani IC 12 Irae Simone LW 11 Tom Wright FH 10 Noah Lolesio  79' SH 9 Joe Powell  50' N8 8 Pete Samu  79' OF 7 Will Miller  73'  79' BF 6 Lachlan McCaffrey  51'  65' RL 5 Cadeyrn Neville LL 4 Murray Douglas  73' TP 3 Allan Alaalatoa HK 2 Folau Fainga'a  59' LP 1 Scott Sio  50' Substitutes: HK 16 Connal McInerney  59' PR 17 James Slipper  50' PR 18 Tom Ross LK 19 Nick Frost  73' BR 20 Rob Valetini  51'  65'  73' SH 21 Nic White  50' FH 22 Bayley Kuenzle  79' WG 23 Solomone Kata  59' Coach: Dan McKellar

FB 15 Jock Campbell RW 14 Jordan Petaia  40' OC 13 Hunter Paisami IC 12 Hamish Stewart LW 11 Filipo Daugunu FH 10 James O'Connor SH 9 Tate McDermott  65' N8 8 Harry Wilson OF 7 Fraser McReight BF 6 Liam Wright RL 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto  44' LL 4 Angus Blyth  79' TP 3 Taniela Tupou HK 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa LP 1 JP Smith  51' Substitutes: HK 16 Josh Nasser PR 17 Harry Hoopert  51' PR 18 Ruan Smith LK 19 Tuaina Taii Tualima  79' FL 20 Angus Scott-Young  44' SH 21 Moses Sorovi  65' FH 22 Bryce Hegarty  40' FB 23 Jack Hardy Coach: Brad Thorn

Man of the Match: Noah Lolesio (Brumbies)[9] Assistant referees: Amy Perrett (Australia) Reuben Keane (Australia) Television match official: James Leckie (Australia)

Squads

Brumbies squad^[10]

Forwards	Allan Alaalatoa • Jahrome Brown • Tom Cusack • Murray Douglas • Folau Fainga'a • Nick Frost • Ben Hyne • Harry Lloyd • Lachlan Lonergan • Lachlan McCaffrey • Connal McInerney • Will Miller • Cadeyrn Neville • Tom Ross • Pete Samu • Scott Sio • James Slipper • Darcy Swain • Rob Valetini • Shambeckler Vui
Backs	Tom Banks • Issak Fines • Mack Hansen • Len Ikitau • Solomone Kata • Bayley Kuenzle • Tevita Kuridrani • Noah Lolesio • Ryan Lonergan • Andy Muirhead • Reesjan Pasitoa • Guy Porter • Joe Powell • Toni Pulu • Irae Simone • Nic White • Tom Wright
Coach	Dan McKellar

Rebels squad^[11]

Forwards	Charlie Abel • Jermaine Ainsley • Angus Cottrell • Cabous Eloff • Mees Erasmus • Pone Fa'amausili • Matt Gibbon • Esei Ha'angana • Richard Hardwick • Ross Haylett-Petty • Trevor Hosea • Josh Kemeny • Boyd Killingworth • Gideon Koegelenberg • Rob Leota • Efi Ma'afu • Declan Moore • Isi Naisarani • Cameron Orr • Matt Philip • Anaru Rangi • Jeral Skelton • Michael Stolberg • Jordan Uelese • Michael Wells • Brad Wilkin
Backs	Lachie Anderson • Andrew Deegan • Tom English • Dane Haylett-Petty • Reece Hodge • Lewis Holland • Andrew Kellaway • Marika Koroibete • Frank Lomani • Ryan Louwrens • Campbell Magnay • Bill Meakes • Tom Pincus • Theo Strang • Matt To'omua • Semisi Tupou • James Tuttle
Coach	David Wessels

Reds squad^[12]

Forwards	Angus Blyth • Sean Farrell • David Feao • Jethro Felemi • Feao Fotuaika • Harry Hoopert • Tom Kibble • Alex Mafi • Fraser McReight • Josh Nasser • Zane Nonggorr • Brandon Paenga-Amosa • Lukhan Salakaia-Loto • Angus Scott-Young • JP Smith • Ruan Smith • Ryan Smith • Jack Straker • Tuaina Taii Tualima • Taniela Tupou • Seru Uru • Harry Wilson • Michael Wood • Liam Wright • Dane Zander
Backs	Jock Campbell • Filipo Daugunu • Chris Feauai-Sautia • Josh Flook • Carter Gordon • Jack Hardy • Bryce Hegarty • Scott Malolua • Tate McDermott • James O'Connor • Hunter Paisami • Jordan Petaia • Henry Speight • Moses Sorovi • Hamish Stewart
Coach	Brad Thorn

Waratahs squad^[13][14]

Forwards	Robbie Abel • Angus Bell • Darcy Breen • Joe Cotton • Jack Dempsey • Max Douglas • Tetera Faulkner • Charlie Gamble • Ned Hanigan • Will Harris • Jed Holloway • Michael Hooper • Tom Horton • Harry Johnson-Holmes • Ryan McCauley • Dave Porecki • Tom Robertson • Rob Simmons • Hugh Sinclair • Tom Staniforth • Lachlan Swinton • Pat Tafa • Chris Talakai • Tiaan Tauakipulu • Carlo Tizzano • Andrew Tuala • Jeremy Williams
Backs	Cam Clark • Ben Donaldson • Lalakai Foketi • Jake Gordon • Will Harrison • Karmichael Hunt • Jack Maddocks • Nick Malouf • Michael McDonald • Tepai Moeroa • Mark Nawaqanitawase • Alex Newsome • James Ramm • Triston Reilly • Henry Robertson • Mitch Short • Jack Walsh • Joey Walton
Coach	Rob Penney

Force squad^[15]

Forwards	Ollie Atkins • Johan Bardoul • Ollie Callan • Pekahou Cowan • Tevin Ferris • Ben Grant • Dom Hardman • Victor Harris • Chris Heiberg • Greg Holmes • Feleti Kaitu'u • Kane Koteka • Fergus Lee-Warner • Kieran Longbottom • Jackson Pugh • Andrew Ready • Tom Sheminant • Brynard Stander • Henry Stowers • Heath Tessmann • Jeremy Thrush • Angus Wagner
Backs	Jake Abel • AJ Alatimu • Marcel Brache • Pama Fou • Nick Frisby • Kyle Godwin • Nick Jooste • Richard Kahui • Brad Lacey • Jono Lance • Jordan Luke • Grason Makara • Jack McGregor • Rory O'Sullivan • Jonah Placid • Ian Prior • Byron Ralston • Jake Strachan • Henry Taefu
Coach	Tim Sampson

Notes

• ^¹ Due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria, the Rebels moved this home fixture from AAMI Park to Brookvale Oval, New South Wales, in order to respect the regulations imposed by the Queensland Government.^[16]
• ^² Due to tight border restrictions, the Western Force moved their rounds 4 & 5 home matches from HBF Park to Leichhardt Oval, New South Wales.^[17]
• ^³ Due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria, the Rebels moved their rounds 6 & 9 home fixtures from AAMI Park to Leichhardt Oval, New South Wales.^[17][18]
• ^⁴ Due to tight border restrictions, the Western Force moved their rounds 7 & 8 home matches from HBF Park to Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Queensland.^[19]
• ^⁵ Due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria, the Rebels moved their round 10 home fixture from AAMI Park to McDonald Jones Stadium, New South Wales.^[20]
• ^⁶ Total attendance and average attendance figures include a match without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and a round 2 match in which an attendance figure was not reported.

References

1. "Suncorp Stadium derby to open Super Rugby AU competition". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
2. "Super Rugby AU to introduce a host of law trials". Rugby Australia. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
3. "World Rugby creates access to optional domestic law trials to further reduce COVID-19 risk". World Rugby. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
4. https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/super-rugby/super-rugby-reds-vs-waratahs-news-score-live-updates-teams-blog-how-to-watch-start-time/news-story/1082464781%5B‍%5D
5. "Super Rugby AU: Brumbies d Rebels". AU Stadiums. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
6. "Super Rugby Results & Crowds". AU Stadiums. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
7. "Queensland Reds remain unbeaten with 31-24 win over Force".
8. "| Latest Rugby News | QLD Reds Rugby".
9. Doran, Christy (20 September 2020). "Slick Lolesio leads Brumbies to historic Super Rugby AU title over injury-hit Queensland Reds". Archived from the original on 20 September 2020.
10. "Plus500 Brumbies Finalise 2020 Super Rugby Squad" (Press release). Brumbies. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
11. "Melbourne Rebels unveil full 2020 playing squad" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
12. "St. George Queensland Reds confirm 2020 squad" (Press release). Queensland Reds. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
13. "NSW Waratahs Squad". NSW Waratahs. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
14. "NSW Waratahs add more names to their Elite Development Squad" (Press release). NSW Waratahs. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
15. "Community colours". Western Force. 14 February 2020. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020.
16. "Super Rugby Returns to Brookvale Oval". Melbourne Rebels. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
17. "Rugby returns to Leichhardt Oval as Fox ratings plateau". Sydney Morning Herald. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
18. "Rebels Confirm Waratahs Blockbuster for Leichhardt Oval". Melbourne Rebels. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
19. "Western Force fixture update". Western Force. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
20. "'Super Saturday' to complete Super Rugby AU regular season". Rugby.com.au. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.

External links

• Official website