Super Rugby Australia

Concussed Jordan Petaia shifted to wing for Reds' decider with Brumbies

Petaia was dazed after a tackle gone wrong in last week’s qualifying final defeat of Melbourne Rebels, ending a night that had already included an intercept try and near-miss.

But he has cleared all concussion protocols to face the Brumbies on Saturday night, who welcome their own young gun Noah Lolesio back from injury to steer the ship at No.10.

Petaia will loom large on the flank as the Reds attempt to snap a six-year losing streak in Canberra, while prop JP Smith will start ahead of Harry Hoopert.

Young Waratahs star Will Harrison inks new contract to lock in long-term Super Rugby future

A prodigious schoolboy talent, Harrison signed his first professional contract with the NSW Waratahs in 2018 and has been a part of the NSW Rugby pathway dating back to his days at Marcellin College.

Since captaining the Australian Schoolboys, Harrison has gone onto excel at youth international level, playing a pivotal role in the Junior Wallabies side that made the final of the 2019 World Rugby U20 Championships.

130 kilogram prop extends stay with Melbourne Rebels

Fa’amausili has been one of the finds of Super Rugby AU, with his big carries skittling defenders.

The 23-year-old man mountain, who stands 196cm and weighs 130kg, said he never considered leaving Melbourne.

“Staying in Melbourne was always my top priority,” said Fa’amausili.

“I played my junior rugby here, I went to school here, I signed my first professional rugby contract here.

“Melbourne is my city and these are the people I want to represent.”

Rugby Australia confirm 'Super Saturday' to sign off regular season of Super Rugby AU

Rugby Australia announced it had shifted the Melbourne Rebels’ clash with the Western Force at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle – originally scheduled for September 4 – to Saturday, September 5 at 5.05pm.

Immediately following that match, the Queensland Reds and the Brumbies will clash at Suncorp Stadium at 7.15pm.

It means the two sides that will play off in the qualifying final will have the same number of day’s preparation time.

The NSW Waratahs have a final round bye.

Captain Rob Simmons returns while Michael Hooper lines up for 150th Waratahs match

“We’ll be flying up there with a big bullseye on our chest,” Waratahs coach Rob Penney said on Thursday.

Despite sitting last with just two bonus points from four outings since their return to the big stage, the Force have been anything but pushovers.

They led the Waratahs 14-0 last time around, almost toppled the Queensland Reds and took the Melbourne Rebels to extra time last start.

So Penney knows full well what the Waratahs are in for at Cbus Super Stadium.

“They’ve been really good, really competitive,” he said.

Western Force legend named for first start of Super Rugby AU campaign

The inclusion of Prior, who missed the past two Super Rugby AU matches through injury, is one of seven changes – five to the starting line-up and two on the bench – from the team that faced the Melbourne Rebels two weeks ago.

The match also marks the return of Force legend Pek Cowan to the starting line-up. The 10-time-capped Wallaby prop made his 131st appearance for the club coming off the bench against the Rebels.

Waratahs secure signature of Super Rugby AU's top line-breaker

Ramm was man of the match in the Waratahs’ thumping of the Reds on Saturday, creating an early try with a brilliant step followed by a chip and chase to set the tone at the SCG.

The 22-year-old is surely on new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie’s shortlist, leading Super Rugby AU statistics in clean breaks (10), sitting equal first on defenders beaten (18) and running third for metres carried (275) with three games to play before finals.

Samoa's Henry Stowers savours Super Rugby debut

The 25 year old will start on the blindside flank for the Western Force against the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney.

The Manu Samoa international has played in the Australian and New Zealand provincial competitions and represented the Force in Global Rapid Rugby, but says there's something special about Super Rugby.

"I've played in New Zealand at age grade and international [level] but it's something different about Super Rugby because this will be my Super Rugby debut," he said.