Rugby Australia has confirmed that a new domestic competition, featuring Australia's four Super Rugby clubs, will kick off in September.
The four-week senior competition will run from Saturday 13 September to Sunday 5 October, with the final falling on the day after the Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup Test match in Perth.
Watch every game of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
The new competition will see the men's sides play alongside the existing Super Rugby Men's U19 competition, with most fixtures forming double headers.
In addition, games will also take place at popular local grounds, with the Brumbies returning to Viking Park and the Waratahs taking a match to Narrabri as part of the Santos Festival of Rugby.
Previously running in tandem with the U19 competition, the Super Rugby Men's U16 competition will start two weeks later than previous iterations, running from Saturday 27 September to Sunday 2 November.
Adding additional matches for Australia's domestic sides has long been signposted by the governing body - and attempted on several occasions, starting with the Australian Provincial Championship in 2006 and the Australian Rugby Championship in 2007.
The National Rugby Championship ran for five seasons before being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Super Rugby AU running for two seasons due to ongoing international travel restrictions relating to the pandemic, receiving an enthusiastic response from fans.
Rugby Australia's General Manager of Men's High Performance and Competitions, Ben Whitaker confirmed that the strategic need to create more competitive fixtures married well with the U19 and U16 programs playing later in the year - also allowing professional players to complete club obligations.
"We have worked closely with the Super Rugby clubs to identify a suitable window within our domestic competition calendar to play more meaningful, quality matches," he said in an official statement.
"This first iteration of Super Rugby AUS will address that need, support the ongoing growth and development of the players and high performance staff, and give rugby fans more opportunities to watch their favourite Super Rugby teams in action.
"The Super Rugby Pacific season is relatively short and sharp, and the contracted players who aren't involved with Wallabies can go a long time between games at that level, especially once club rugby finals commence in August.
"Super Rugby AUS will also be an opportunity to showcase the best emerging player and coaching talent out of club rugby, along with the national and Super Rugby pathway programs."
Super Rugby AUS, Super Rugby U19 and Super Rugby U16 will be broadcast live and on-demand on Stan Sport.
ROUND 1
NSW Waratahs v Western Force - Time TBC, Saturday 13 September, Venue TBC
Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies - Time TBC, Sunday 14 September, Venue TBC
ROUND 2
NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds - 5.45pm AEST Saturday 20 September, Dangar Park, Narrabri (Santos Festival of Rugby)
Western Force v ACT Brumbies - Time TBC, Sunday 21 September, Venue TBC
ROUND 3
ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs - Time TBC, Saturday 27 September, Viking Park, Canberra
Western Force v Queensland Reds - Time TBC, Sunday 28 September, Venue TBC
GRAND FINAL
Sunday 5 October - TBC v TBC
