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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.
2013 Emirates Western Force Draw
Round Day & Date Match Venue Time (local)
1 Friday, 15 February Rebels v Emirates Western Force Melbourne 19.40
2 Saturday, 23 February Kings v Emirates Western Force Port Elizabeth 19.10
3 Saturday, 2 March Bulls v Emirates Western Force Pretoria 17.05
4 BYE
5 Saturday, 16 March Reds v Emirates Western Force Brisbane 18.40
6 Saturday, 23 March Emirates Western Force v Cheetahs nib Stadium, Perth 18.40
7 Saturday, 31 March Waratahs v Emirates Western Force Sydney 16.05
8 Saturday, 6 April Emirates Western Force v Rebels nib Stadium, Perth 16.40
9 Saturday, 13 April Emirates Western Force v Crusaders nib Stadium, Perth 19.40
10 Friday, 19 April Hurricanes v Emirates Western Force TBC 19.35
11 Saturday, 27 April Brumbies v Emirates Western Force Canberra 19.40
12 Saturday, 4 May Emirates Western Force v Reds nib Stadium, Perth 17.40
13 Friday, 10 May Chiefs v Emirates Western Force TBC 19.35
14 Friday, 17 May Emirates Western Force v Sharks nib Stadium, Perth 19.40
15 Saturday, 25 May Emirates Western Force v Highlanders nib Stadium, Perth 17.40
16 BYE
17 Sunday, 9 June Emirates Western Force v Waratahs nib Stadium, Perth 14.05
20 Saturday, 13 July Emirates Western Force v Brumbies nib Stadium, Perth 19.40
Tour Match Wednesday, 5 June Emirates Western Force v British & Irish Lions Patersons Stadium, Perth TBC
Details on Fixtures in PDF / iCal or Outlook Format here
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Bring on 2013!
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
first game at home is round 6 .. hopefully upgrade will be finished!
Chuck Norris has the greatest Poker-Face of all time. He won the 1983 World Series of Poker, despite holding only a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game Uno.
Who's touring where?
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InnFORCEr's start your engines...
Bring it on![]()
Hello Everyone, plenty on offer
15 February - Rebels in Melbourne - The Valentines Tour
23 February - Kings in Port Elizabeth - The South Africa Tour
2 March - Bulls in Loftus
16 March - Reds in Brisbane - The St Patricks Tour
31 March - Tahs in Sydney - The Easter Tour
19 April - Canes in NZ somwhere TBA - The ANZAC Tour (could get back to ACT for ANZAC Day)
27 April - Brumbies in Canberra
10 May - Cheifs in NZ somewhere TBA - The Cow Bell Tour
Who is interetsed in what and we can get seperate threads running for each tour.
Last edited by The InnFORCEr; 21-09-12 at 13:24.
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
March before the first game!
Looks like I'm going to be wishing away a lot of my life!
May the FORCE be with you!
I'm thinking of doing just the Brumbies game to tie in ANZAC Day in the capital as well.
Wednesday 24 April - arrive Canberra
Thursday 25 April - ANZAC Day Dawn Service
Friday 26 April - Sights (read pub crawl)
Saturday 27 April - Match Day
Sunday 28 April - leave Canberra (could fly to Sydney for a day in The Rocks!)
Only really requires two (2) days off work
Pics from last year http://www.flickr.com/photos/austral...7629901815271/
Last edited by The InnFORCEr; 21-09-12 at 13:21.
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
hmm. might be able to swing that canberra one too, although I'd aim to arrive on 25th or 26th.
"12 Years aSupporter" starring the #SeaOfBlue
One trip to Canberra was enough!
perhaps the cannes(if the game is at the cake tin)