Hurricanes recruit

The Highlanders will host the Queensland Reds in the opening game of the 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.

The draw for the five-week competition was announced yesterday with the first game set for Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday May 14.

The Highlanders and Crusaders will be at home in round one with the Hurricanes, Blues and Chiefs heading across the Tasman for the start of a tournament that will see New Zealand’s five Super Rugby clubs square off against the Reds, NSW Waratahs, Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force.

All 25 regular season matches will be screened on Sky, including weekly Friday night double-headers at 7.05pm and

9.45pm and three matches every Saturday. The final between the two top-placed teams on the combined competition table is scheduled for Saturday, June 19.

The draw also includes two

4.35pm afternoon matches in New Zealand with the Blues hosting the Waratahs at Eden Park in round two, and the Chiefs playing the Rebels at FMG Stadium Waikato in round four.

Round three will feature a Super Round with all matches being played at one venue. New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia will announce venues and other details for the Super Round in due course.

New Zealand Rugby’s general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said it was great to have certainty around venue and kick off times heading into Christmas.

‘‘When you see the weekly match ups you realise how compelling the competition will be and I think it’s something that will capture the imagination of fans and players on both sides of the Tasman,’’ Lendrum said.

‘‘We’ll get a chance to see all the teams in action in Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU and there will be a lot of intrigue in how they measure up to each other when Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman kicks off.’’

The Hurricanes have bolstered their coaching lineup with former Crusaders and Munster first fiveeighth Tyler Bleyendaal.

The 30-year-old played 21 games for the Crusaders, 32 for Canterbury and 62 for Irish club Munster between 2011 and 2020 before a serious neck injury forced him to retire from all rugby.

Bleyendaal said in a statement issued by the Hurricanes that he wanted to develop the talent in the Hurricanes squad.

Former All Blacks No 10 Carlos Spencer was previously on the Hurricanes’ coaching roster but suddenly left near the end of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season, leaving head coach Jason Holland short of an experienced assistant coach with several rounds to go.

Holland had previously played in Munster before returning to New Zealand to assist Scott Robertson at Canterbury, prior to shifting north to assist Chris Boyd when he coached the Hurricanes.

Bleyendaal said being closer to