Reds welcome extra Waratahs clashes
RUGBY UNION: The streamlined Super Rugby schedule for next season has jumped in quality yet it packs a punch of reality for the poorly performed Reds.
Cutting clubs to create a more coherent 15-team competition in a threeconference format also means three of the easier opponents for Queensland no longer exist.
The Reds have won just 11 matches over the past three seasons and five of those came against clubs that have been chopped – the Cheetahs (two), Western Force (two) and Southern Kings (one).
The 2018 draw released yesterday included some notable highlights:
The Reds’ first home game against the Brumbies on March 2 is one of three Friday night games among the eight home clashes at Suncorp Stadium.
The traditional interstate clash against the Waratahs has been restored to home-and-away status after last year’s mutated draw for 18 teams dictated just one.
The Reds will also make their first visit to Japan since Quade Cooper’s 2006 debut to tackle the Sunwolves in Tokyo.
The Highlanders and Chiefs are the Kiwi visitors but there is no clash against the champion Crusaders.
“The return of home-andaway derbies and eight home games are a big positive from the Reds’ perspective,” Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Richard Barker said.
Meanwhile, Barker yesterday could still offer no comment on whether Nick Stiles (pictured) would be at the helm next year despite a season review being completed weeks ago.