Emirates Western Force draw released for 2013

The Emirates Western Force will kick off the 2013 season against the Rebels before becoming the first team to take on the incoming Southern Kings in Super Rugby, when they meet in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 23 February.

 

The Southern Kings – who represent South Africa’s Eastern Cape province – are the newcomers to the 2013 Super Rugby competition, replacing the Johannesburg-based Lions, who were relegated at the completion of the 2012 tournament.

 

According to the 2013 Super Rugby draw released today, the Emirates Western Force will play their first four matches on the road to allow for the completion of the new eastern and southern stands at a revamped nib Stadium.

 

These ‘away’ fixtures include the competition’s season opener against the Rebels in Melbourne before heading to South Africa for the historic clash against the Kings and a high veldt match-up with the Bulls. The Emirates Western Force then returns to Australia for a showdown in Brisbane with the Reds before the new-look nib Stadium is unveiled to ‘the Sea of Blue’ on Saturday, 23 March when the Force tackles the Cheetahs.

 

The match against the Free State side is the first of eight home fixtures for the Emirates Western Force in their final 12 games.

 

In addition to hosting the four Australian sides, the Emirates Western Force will also take on 2012 semi-finalists, the Sharks; the resurgent Highlanders; and a blockbuster against star-studded perennial Super Rugby contenders, the Crusaders.

 

The West Australians will complete the regular season by hosting the Brumbies, featuring former Force captain David Pocock.

 

The Emirates Western Force suite of home matches include one home Friday night fixture, six on Saturday night and one on Sunday afternoon, following on from the success of this year’s ‘Superhero Sunday’ that coincided with the clash against the Rebels.

 

The Emirates Western Force will not have matches at home over the Easter (Friday, 29 March to Monday, 1 April) and

Foundation Day (Monday, 3 June) long weekends.

 

RugbyWA CEO Vern Reid says the draw delivers many highlights for Emirates Western Force supporters.

 

“We’re very excited about what the draw has provided us for next season, particularly with regard to our eight home matches,” he said.

 

“We’re grateful to SANZAR for allowing the side to spend the first five weeks away, and it’ll be a tremendous homecoming when we return to a new-look stadium on March 23. The new stands will provide our members and fans with a much-improved spectator experience, and we’ll be looking for our supporters to help our side in making nib Stadium a tough venue for visiting teams next year.

 

“We’re looking forward to the return of the Crusaders to Perth; we’ve filled the past two home matches against them and – given where they finished last season and the promise of the Force in 2013 – we’re confident of another sell-out next year.

 

“We’re thrilled to be playing in the season opener against the Rebels, honoured to be a part of the Kings’ introduction to Super Rugby, and keen to finish the season well in front of our passionate and loyal supporters.

 

“[Emirates Western Force coach] Michael Foley has referred to the relaunch of the side next season, and the new stadium and exciting draw will further contribute to kicking off an era for the Emirates Western Force that our members and supporters should be very enthusiastic about.”

 

The Australian Conference teams will be the only teams playing in Round 1 of the competition with four of the teams in action, with the same to occur in Round 17 before the Super Rugby season ‘breaks’ for the June inbound Tests, featuring the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.

 

The four-week Test window allows for Australian provinces and the Wallabies to face the Lions in their nine-match visit, beginning with the tour opener against the Emirates Western Force in Perth on Wednesday, 5 June. This match will be held at increased capacity of Patersons Stadium to allow for the influx of touring British & Irish Lions supporters, with more than 11,000 converging on Perth when the side last toured in 2001.

 

Rounds 18 and 19 (post-break) will feature only New Zealand and South African Conference teams.