Rugby Union

Waratahs to call Leichhardt Oval home after Brookvale refusal

Austadiums • Monday 31st January 2022
View of the Leichhardt Oval grandstand. Photo: Hpeterswald

The NSW Waratahs will play the bulk of their home games at Leichhardt Oval after Brookvale Oval knocked back the opportunity to host games. Meanwhile, the Super Rugby Pacific fixture has had its third reshuffle.

In what will be the club’s final season away from their Moore Park base, with the new Sydney Football Stadium scheduled to open later this year, the Waratahs have announced they'll play five of their seven home games at the traditional home of the Wests Tigers.

However, it has been reported the Waratahs wanted to take some home games to Brookvale Oval, but the Northern Beaches Council didn’t want to stage the games, telling NSW Rugby the venue was unavailable.

The Manly Sea Eagles home ground, commercially known as 4 Pines Park, is currently being redeveloped, with a new 3000-seat grandstand nearing completion and upgraded playing surface, due to be ready prior to the 2022 NRL season.

The Waratahs have attracted some of their largest and most passionate crowds to the Northern Beaches venue, with two games prior to Covid both attracting more than 15,000 spectators.

The remaining two home games for the Waratahs will be split between CommBank Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground. In their three seasons away from the SFS, games have also been played at McDonald Jones Stadium, WIN Stadium and Stadium Australia.

VIEW THE 2022 SUPER RUGBY FIXTURE >

Travel restrictions between Australia and New Zealand due to Covid have led to a reshuffle of the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific competition, with Australian sides now set to face each other during the opening nine rounds.

Western Australia’s strict border controls have also meant the Western Force have swapped home games with the Perth-based franchise unable to welcome teams to HBF Park. This means the Brumbies will now host the Force at GIO Stadium during the opening round.

The first ever Super Round will now be played on Anzac Day weekend on April 22-24, with all 12 teams to converge on Melbourne to take part in three double-headers at AAMI Park. Crossover games will then follow in subsequent rounds.

AAMI Park

The new-look Super Rugby Pacific competition features two new franchises – Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua. The Pasifika will base themselves at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland while the Drua will initially play games in Sydney and Queensland, with games to eventually to be played in Fiji at Suva’s ANZ Stadium.

Meanwhile, there is growing speculation the entire Super Rugby Pacific competition will need to move to Australia as government border restrictions continue to wreak havoc with the draw. However, it’s believed to be a last resort, with New Zealand Rugby expected to announce the formation of a tournament bubble in Queenstown, where the five NZ sides and the Pasifika will be based, to keep the competition going under the current “red” settings.

Updated Super Rugby Pacific Fixtures
Round 1: Brumbies v Western Force, GIO Stadium Canberra, 2pm, Sunday 20 February
Round 3: Western Force v Queensland Reds, TBC
Round 4: NSW Waratahs v Western Force, Leichardt Oval, 2pm, Sunday 13 March
Round 6: Western Force v Brumbies, HBF Park Perth, 7pm, Friday 25 March
Round 9: Western Force v NSW Waratahs, HBF Park Perth, 5.45pm, Saturday 16 April

NSW Waratahs Home Games
Round 1: Waratahs v Fijian Drua, Friday 18 February, CommBank Stadium
Round 2: Waratahs v Reds, Friday 25 February, Leichhardt Oval
Round 5: Waratahs v Rebels, Saturday 19 March, Sydney Cricket Ground
Round 9: Waratahs v Force, Saturday 16 April, Leichhardt Oval
Round 11: Waratahs v Crusaders, Saturday 30 April, Leichhardt Oval
Round 13: Waratahs v Hurricanes, Saturday 14 May, Leichhardt Oval
Round 15: Waratahs v Blues, Saturday 28 May, Leichhardt Oval

Leichhardt OvalSuper Rugby

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The NSW Waratahs will play the bulk of their home games at Leichhardt Oval after Brookvale Oval knocked back the opportunity to host games. Meanwhile, the Super Rugby Pacific fixture has had its third reshuffle.
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