1
Waratahs to spread the love in 2020
By Tom Vinicombe
One of Super Rugby's growing issues is that stadiums in Australia and New Zealand are often awash of empty seats on match day.
The Waratahs will aim to alleviate that problem in 2020 by taking fixtures to a number of smaller venues across the state.
The NSW Rugby Union have released a list of confirmed venues for next season, which kicks off on Friday the 31st of January.
Michael Hooper and his men will travel to six different venues, including the SCG, Brookvale Oval, Bankwest Stadium, McDonalds Jones Stadium (Newcastle), WIN Stadium (Wollongong) and Scully Park (Tamworth).
The SCG can hold up to 46,000 spectators whilst Bankwest Stadium and McDonalds Jones Stadium can cater for 30,000. The other three venues cap out at under 25,000.
Scully Park, where the Waratahs will host the Bulls, can hold just 11,000 fans. The Round 8 fixture will mark the first time that the Waratahs have taken a Super Rugby fixture to NSW country.
Spreading the games across the region will ensure that the maximum number of Waratahs supporters in the state will be able to attend fixtures. The matches will also look considerably better when televised, with stadiums likely to be considerably closer to full capacity than they have been in the past.
The changes have also been somewhat forced upon the NSRWU due to the continued redevelopment of ANZ Stadium and the Sydney Football Stadium.
“The [NSWRU] Board made it clear from the outset that we wanted to use our current displacement as an opportunity to engage with fans across NSW,” interim-CEO Phillip Van Schalkwyk said.
“To be playing in regional, country and a range of metropolitan locations in 2020 is a great result.
“We’re extremely excited about the completion of the new SFS and would again like to thank the SCG for their support during this process.”
The Waratahs begin their season on Saturday February 1st against reigning champions the Crusaders.
NSW Waratahs 2020 Super Rugby home fixtures:
Round 2: NSW Waratahs v Auckland Blues, McDonald Jones Stadium
Round 5: NSW Waratahs v Lions, Bankwest Stadium
Round 6: NSW Waratahs v Chiefs, WIN Stadium
Round 8: NSW Waratahs v Bulls, Scully Park, Tamworth
Round 9: NSW Waratahs v Sunwolves, SCG
Round 12: NSW Waratahs v Reds, Bankwest Stadium
Round 14: NSW Waratahs v Rebels, Brookvale Oval
Round 17: NSW Waratahs v Brumbies, Bankwest Stadium
Dave Rennie could be taking over as head coach of the Wallabies from 2020:
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode
5
Latest Comments
There is a major story unfolding around Gleeson's bar in Booterstown, South Dublin City last night. Beaudy Barrett, DMac and Cody Taylor were there. DMac was supposed to be on the Guinness 0.0 but lets just say it didn't turn out that way.
Hours later, Dmac out cold, head on the table with a long stallagtite of flem and spittle rising and falling with his breathing. There is a video apparently.
The barman barred a staggering Taylor from any more Guinness but Taylor kept pushing past him, pulled a seat up to the Guinness tap and personally pulled himself pints, claiming it was 'celebrity pint pulls mate'.
One of these celebrity pint pulls made a local paper but it's only a matter of time before the real context comes out. Dmac is out of the team for Friday due to breaking 'internal standards', Sititi starting at 10.
Go to commentsNow that made me laugh bull!
I tell you what though, the head knock from Kriel on Hugh jones in the wc that didn’t result in any card was a real mystery with the way things are now.
Also suspect the Boks will be pretty well motivated by glasgows antics in stellenbosch last week and loftus in June…
Should be a cracker hopefully!
Go to comments