# 2020 Super Rugby AU season

The 2020 Super Rugby AU season (branded as Vodafone Super Rugby AU for sponsorship reasons) was a professional club rugby union tournament organised by Rugby Australia. Sponsored by communications company Vodafone, the tournament replaced the Australian component of the incomplete 2020 Super Rugby season that was shut down in March of that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It featured the four teams from the 2020 Australian conference, with the addition of former Super Rugby franchise the Western Force.
The tournament was the inaugural season of Super Rugby AU and ran from 3 July to 19 September 2020.

## Law adaptions

On 12 June, Rugby Australia announced seven law trials designed to make the game more entertaining for the fans and players. The trials were adapted from the 10 optional law trials available for unions and competitions given by World Rugby in May 2020. The following trials will be used during the competition:
| Law trials | Scenario |
| Goal line drop-out | When an attacking player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal or knocks the ball on play restarts with a goal line drop-out. |
| Goal line drop-out | When a kick enters the in-goal area and is forced by the defending team play restarts with a goal line drop-out |
| Mark | A kick originating in the attacking 22m area cannot be marked by the defending team within their own 22m area. The kick can however be marked within the defending team's in-goal area and play restarts with a 22m line drop-out. |
| Red card change | A red carded player can be replaced after 20 minutes, unless all substitutions have been used. |
| 50/22 | A kick taken from within the defending team's 50m area that travels into touch within the opposition's 22m area having first bounced in the field of play results in a line-out throw to the kicking team. This does not apply following a free-kick. |
| 22/50 | A kick taken from within the defending team's 22m area that travels into touch within the opposition's 50m area having first bounced in the field of play results in a line-out throw to the kicking team. This does not apply following a free-kick. |
| Super Time | 2 x 5min periods of extra time; in the event of a drawn game after regulation time where the first points scored wins the match for the scoring team |

## Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Brumbies (Q) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 189 | 147 | +42 | 30 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 28 |
| 2 | Reds (Q) | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 215 | 150 | +65 | 28 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 25 |
| 3 | Rebels (Q) | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 194 | 178 | +16 | 21 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| 4 | Waratahs | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 204 | 189 | +15 | 22 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 19 |
| 5 | Force | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 115 | 253 | −138 | 15 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
* 4 points to the winning team
* 2 points to each team if neither team scores during extra time
* 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
* 1 bonus point to any team scoring three tries or more than the opposition

## Matches
### Round 1

* 3 July 2020 19:05
| Reds | 32–26 | Waratahs (1 BP) |
| Try: Wright 6' Daugunu 18' McDermott 29' Wilson 64' Con: Hegarty (3/4) 7', 30', 65' Pen: O'Connor (2/2) 76', 80+1' Cards: Tupou 67' | Report | Try: Johnson-Holmes 10' Maddocks 48' Con: Harrison (2/2) 11', 49' Pen: Harrison (4/4) 34', 40', 43', 68' Cards: Bell 29' |
* Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 5,590 Referee: Nic Berry
* 4 July 2020 19:15
| (1 BP) Brumbies | 31–23 | Rebels |
| Try: Muirhead 3' Powell 27' Fainga'a 37' Wright 44' Miller 77' Con: Lolesio (3/5) 5', 39', 79' | Report | Try: Uelese 58' D. Haylett-Petty 63' Con: To'omua (2/2) 59', 65' Pen: To'omua (3/4) 9', 24', 71' |
* GIO Stadium Attendance: 1,460 Referee: Angus Gardner

### Round 2

* 10 July 2020 19:05
| Rebels | 18–18 (a.e.t.) | Reds |
| Try: Hodge 54' Meakes 68' Con: To'omua (1/2) 69' Pen: To'omua (2/2) 7', 40+2' | Report | Try: Daugunu 44' Mafi 79' Con: O'Connor (1/2) 80+1' Pen: O'Connor (2/2) 51', 75' |
* Brookvale Oval Referee: Damon Murphy
* 11 July 2020 19:15
| Waratahs | 23–14 | Force |
| Try: Bell 40' Staniforth 62' Con: Harrison (2/2) 40+2', 64' Pen: Harrison (3/3) 46', 60', 74' | Report | Try: Ralston 29' Pen: Prior (3/3) 14', 33', 37' |
* Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 1,793 Referee: Angus Gardner

### Round 3

* 17 July 2020 19:05
| Reds | 31–24 | Force (1 BP) |
| Try: Paenga-Amosa 19' Campbell 23' Tupou 27' Daugunu 45' Con: O'Connor (4/4) 20', 24', 28', 46' Drop: O'Connor 79' Cards: Paisami 70' | Report | Try: McGregor 11' Ralston (2) 14', 39' Ready 70' Con: Prior (2/2) 13', 15' |
* Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 6,890 Referee: Nic Berry
* 18 July 2020 19:15
| (1 BP) Waratahs | 23–24 | Brumbies |
| Try: Horton 24' Ramm 29' Con: Harrison (2/2) 25', 30' Pen: Harrison (3/4) 10', 15', 50' | Report | Try: Cusack 5' Fainga'a 34' Valetini 37' Fines 77' Con: Kuenzle (2/3) 38', 79' Cards: Muirhead 21' |
* ANZ Stadium Attendance: 1,976 Referee: Angus Gardner

### Round 4

* 24 July 2020 19:05
| Waratahs | 10–29 | Rebels |
| Try: Newsome 7' Con: Harrison (1/1) 9' Pen: Harrison (1/1) 23' Cards: Hooper 31' Holloway 70' | Report | Try: Louwrens 38' Koroibete 78' Con: To'omua (2/2) 39', 78' Pen: To'omua (5/5) 4', 11', 15', 31', 71' |
* Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 1,620 Referee: Angus Gardner
* 25 July 2020 19:15
| Force | 0–24 | Brumbies (1 BP) |
| | Report | Try: Wright 2' Simone 6' Miller 43' McInerney 66' Con: Kuenzle (2/4) 7', 45' |
* Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 253 Referee: Damon Murphy

### Round 5

* 31 July 2020 19:05
| (1 BP) Force | 20–25 (a.e.t.) | Rebels |
| Try: Lee-Warner 27' Ralston 57' Con: Lance (2/2) 28', 58' Pen: Lance (2/3) 12', 64' Cards: Thrush 50' | Report | Try: Uelese 30' Philip 60' Naisarani 82' Con: To'omua (2/2) 32', 61' Pen: To'omua (1/1) 53' Hodge (1/2) 40+4' Cards: Naisarani 25' |
* Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 358 Referee: Angus Gardner
* 1 August 2020 19:15
| Brumbies | 22–20 | Reds (1 BP) |
| Try: Fainga'a (2) 6', 33' McInerney 75' Con: Kuenzle (2/2) 7', 35' Pen: Hansen (1/1) 80+3' | Report | Try: Wilson 43' Scott-Young 46' Con: O'Connor (2/2) 44', 47' Pen: O'Connor (2/3) 39', 50' |
* GIO Stadium Attendance: 1,525 Referee: Nic Berry

### Round 6

* 7 August 2020 19:05
| Rebels | 30–12 | Brumbies |
| Try: Hodge (2) 3', 23' Wilkin 16' Uelese 38' Con: To'omua (2/4) 17', 39' Pen: To'omua (2/2) 32', 53' | Report | Try: Powell 18' Miller 80' Con: Kuenzle (1/1) 20' Cards: Cusack 40+1' |
* Liechhardt Oval Attendance: Closed Event Referee: Graham Cooper
* 8 August 2020 19:15
| (1 BP) Waratahs | 45–12 | Reds |
| Try: Gordon (3) 10', 17', 27' Maddocks 24' Newsome 35' Horton 52' Con: Harrison (5/5) 11', 18', 25', 29', 36' Donaldson (1/1) 53' Pen: Harrison (1/1) 5' | Report | Try: Hardy 54' O'Connor 80+2' Con: O'Connor (1/2) 80+3' Cards: Zane Nonggorr 77' |
* Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 1,770 Referee: Damon Murphy

### Round 7

* 14 August 2020 19:05
| Force | 8–28 | Waratahs |
| Try: Stander 15' Pen: Prior 28' | Report | Try: Newsome 35' Maddocks 45' Johnson-Holmes 80' Con: Harrison (2/2) 36', 46' Pen: Harrison (3/3) 9', 20', 32' |
* Cbus Super Stadium Attendance: 569 Referee: Nic Berry
* 15 August 2020 19:15
| (1 BP) Reds | 19–3 | Rebels |
| Try: Petaia 14' Paenga-Amosa 28' Stewart 73' Con: O'Connor (2/3) 15', 29' Cards: Paenga-Amosa 70' | Report | Pen: To'omua (1/1) 8' |
* Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 6,131 Referee: Damon Murphy

### Round 8

* 21 August 2020 19:05
| Force | 5–57 | Reds (1 BP) |
| Try: Ready 43' Cards: Longbottom 53' | Report | Try: Daugunu (2) 16', 29' McReight 55' McDermott (2) 59', 64' O'Connor 70' Hegarty 73' Tualima 80' Con: O'Connor (7/8) 17', 57', 61', 65', 71', 74', 80' Pen: O'Connor (1/1) 38' |
* Cbus Super Stadium Attendance: 1,575 Referee: Jordan Way
* 22 August 2020 19:15
| (1 BP) Brumbies | 38–11 | Waratahs |
| Try: R. Lonergan 15' Muirhead 24' Samu (2) 46', 73' Wright (2) 53', 58' Con: R. Lonergan (2/3) 16', 47' Kuenzle (2/3) 54', 73' | Report | Try: Dempsey 37' Pen: Harrison (2/2) 19', 29' |
* GIO Stadium Attendance: 1,281 Referee: Angus Gardner

### Round 9

* 28 August 2020 19:05
| (1 BP) Brumbies | 31–14 | Force |
| Try: Wright 32' Banks 39' Miller 51' Ikitau 65' Muirhead 75' Con: Kuenzle (3/5) 52', 66', 76' | Report | Try: Lee-Warner 9' Lance 55' Con: Prior (2/2) 11', 57' |
* GIO Stadium Attendance: 2,209 Referee: Amy Perrett
* 29 August 2020 19:15
| (1 BP) Rebels | 32–38 | Waratahs |
| Try: To'omua 37' Naisarani (2) 46', 72' Koroibete 62' Con: To'omua (3/4) 39', 47', 64' Pen: To'omua (2/3) 3', 78' Cards: Philip 65' | Report | Try: Gordon 7' Dempsey 23' Johnson-Holmes 49' Walton 56' Harrison 74' Con: Harrison (5/5) 8', 23', 50', 57', 75' Pen: Harrison (1/1) 40' Cards: Hanigan 37' |
* Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 1,758 Referee: Graham Cooper

### Round 10 – Super Saturday

* 5 September 2020 17:05
| Rebels | 34–30 | Force (1 BP) |
| Try: Pincus 18' Hodge 28' D. Haylett-Petty 59' Eloff 79' Con: To'omua (4/4) 18', 30', 61', 80' Pen: To'omua (2/2) 24', 26' Cards: Pincus 56' | Report | Try: Taefu 20' Ready (2) 40', 44' Stander 58' Con: Prior (2/4) 45', 59' Pen: Prior (2/2) 9', 56' Cards: Ralston 61' Lee-Warner 75' |
* McDonald Jones Stadium Attendance: 817 Referee: Angus Gardner
* 5 September 2020 19:15
| Reds | 26–7 | Brumbies |
| Try: Wright 6' Feauai-Sautia 36' McDermott 76' Con: O'Connor (1/2) 38' Pen: O'Connor (3/3) 18', 31', 66' | Report | Try: Samu 40' Con: Kuenzle (1/1) 40' |
* Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 9,922 Referee: Nic Berry

### Qualifying final

* 12 September 2020 19:15
| Reds | 25–13 | Rebels |
| Try: Petaia 9' Salakaia-Loto 44' Daugunu 75' Con: O'Connor (2/3) 10', 46' Pen: O'Connor (2/3) 25', 58' | Report | Try: Koroibete 40' Con: To'omua (1/1) 40' Pen: To'omua (1/1) 17' Hodge (1/1) 54' |
* Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 11,607 Referee: Nic Berry

### Final

* 19 September 2020 19:15
| Brumbies | 28–23 | Reds |
| Try: Fainga'a 17' Muirhead 26' Banks 45' Con: Lolesio (2/3) 18', 47' Pen: Lolesio (2/3) 5', 55' Drop: Lolesio 49' | Report Summary | Try: Wilson 31' Blyth 64' Con: O'Connor (2/2) 32', 65' Pen: O'Connor (3/3) 13', 40+2', 59' Cards: Daugunu 50' |
* GIO Stadium Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Angus Gardner
| Brumbies | Reds |
| FB | 15 | Tom Banks |
| RW | 14 | Andy Muirhead | 59' |
| OC | 13 | Tevita Kuridrani |
| IC | 12 | Irae Simone |
| LW | 11 | Tom Wright |
| FH | 10 | Noah Lolesio | 79' |
| SH | 9 | Joe Powell | 50' |
| N8 | 8 | Pete Samu | | | | 79' |
| OF | 7 | Will Miller | | | 73' | 79' |
| BF | 6 | Lachlan McCaffrey | 51' | 65' |
| RL | 5 | Cadeyrn Neville |
| LL | 4 | Murray Douglas | 73' |
| TP | 3 | Allan Alaalatoa |
| HK | 2 | Folau Fainga'a | 59' |
| LP | 1 | Scott Sio | 50' |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Connal McInerney | 59' |
| PR | 17 | James Slipper | 50' |
| PR | 18 | Tom Ross |
| LK | 19 | Nick Frost | 73' |
| BR | 20 | Rob Valetini | 51' | 65' | 73' |
| SH | 21 | Nic White | 50' |
| FH | 22 | Bayley Kuenzle | 79' |
| WG | 23 | Solomone Kata | 59' |
| Coach: ||
| Dan McKellar ||
| FB | 15 | Jock Campbell |
| RW | 14 | Jordan Petaia | 40' |
| OC | 13 | Hunter Paisami |
| IC | 12 | Hamish Stewart |
| LW | 11 | Filipo Daugunu |
| FH | 10 | James O'Connor |
| SH | 9 | Tate McDermott | 65' |
| N8 | 8 | Harry Wilson |
| OF | 7 | Fraser McReight |
| BF | 6 | Liam Wright |
| RL | 5 | Lukhan Salakaia-Loto | 44' |
| LL | 4 | Angus Blyth | 79' |
| TP | 3 | Taniela Tupou |
| HK | 2 | Brandon Paenga-Amosa |
| LP | 1 | JP Smith | 51' |
| Substitutes: ||
| HK | 16 | Josh Nasser |
| PR | 17 | Harry Hoopert | 51' |
| PR | 18 | Ruan Smith |
| LK | 19 | Tuaina Taii Tualima | 79' |
| FL | 20 | Angus Scott-Young | 44' |
| SH | 21 | Moses Sorovi | 65' |
| FH | 22 | Bryce Hegarty | 40' |
| FB | 23 | Jack Hardy |
| Coach: ||
| Brad Thorn ||
* Man of the Match:
* Noah Lolesio (Brumbies)
* Assistant referees:
* Amy Perrett (Australia)
* Reuben Keane (Australia)
* Television match official:
* James Leckie (Australia)

## Squads

Brumbies squad :
| Forwards | Allan Alaalatoa • Jahrome Brown • Tom Cusack • Murray Douglas • Folau Fainga'a • Nick Frost • Ben Hyne • Harry Lloyd • Lachlan Lonergan • Lachlan McCaffrey • Connal McInerney • Will Miller • Cadeyrn Neville • Tom Ross • Pete Samu • Scott Sio • James Slipper • Darcy Swain • Rob Valetini • Shambeckler Vui |
| Backs | Tom Banks • Issak Fines • Mack Hansen • Len Ikitau • Solomone Kata • Bayley Kuenzle • Tevita Kuridrani • Noah Lolesio • Ryan Lonergan • Andy Muirhead • Reesjan Pasitoa • Guy Porter • Joe Powell • Toni Pulu • Irae Simone • Nic White • Tom Wright |
| Coach | Dan McKellar |
Rebels squad :
| Forwards | Charlie Abel • Jermaine Ainsley • Angus Cottrell • Cabous Eloff • Mees Erasmus • Pone Fa'amausili • Matt Gibbon • Esei Ha'angana • Richard Hardwick • Ross Haylett-Petty • Trevor Hosea • Josh Kemeny • Boyd Killingworth • Gideon Koegelenberg • Rob Leota • Efi Ma'afu • Declan Moore • Isi Naisarani • Cameron Orr • Matt Philip • Anaru Rangi • Jeral Skelton • Michael Stolberg • Jordan Uelese • Michael Wells • Brad Wilkin |
| Backs | Lachie Anderson • Andrew Deegan • Tom English • Dane Haylett-Petty • Reece Hodge • Lewis Holland • Andrew Kellaway • Marika Koroibete • Frank Lomani • Ryan Louwrens • Campbell Magnay • Bill Meakes • Tom Pincus • Theo Strang • Matt To'omua • Semisi Tupou • James Tuttle |
| Coach | David Wessels |
Reds squad :
| Forwards | Angus Blyth • Sean Farrell • David Feao • Jethro Felemi • Feao Fotuaika • Harry Hoopert • Tom Kibble • Alex Mafi • Fraser McReight • Josh Nasser • Zane Nonggorr • Brandon Paenga-Amosa • Lukhan Salakaia-Loto • Angus Scott-Young • JP Smith • Ruan Smith • Ryan Smith • Jack Straker • Tuaina Taii Tualima • Taniela Tupou • Seru Uru • Harry Wilson • Michael Wood • Liam Wright • Dane Zander |
| Backs | Jock Campbell • Filipo Daugunu • Chris Feauai-Sautia • Josh Flook • Carter Gordon • Jack Hardy • Bryce Hegarty • Scott Malolua • Tate McDermott • James O'Connor • Hunter Paisami • Jordan Petaia • Henry Speight • Moses Sorovi • Hamish Stewart |
| Coach | Brad Thorn |
Waratahs squad :
| Forwards | Robbie Abel • Angus Bell • Darcy Breen • Joe Cotton • Jack Dempsey • Max Douglas • Tetera Faulkner • Charlie Gamble • Ned Hanigan • Will Harris • Jed Holloway • Michael Hooper • Tom Horton • Harry Johnson-Holmes • Ryan McCauley • Dave Porecki • Tom Robertson • Rob Simmons • Hugh Sinclair • Tom Staniforth • Lachlan Swinton • Pat Tafa • Chris Talakai • Tiaan Tauakipulu • Carlo Tizzano • Andrew Tuala • Jeremy Williams |
| Backs | Cam Clark • Ben Donaldson • Lalakai Foketi • Jake Gordon • Will Harrison • Karmichael Hunt • Jack Maddocks • Nick Malouf • Michael McDonald • Tepai Moeroa • Mark Nawaqanitawase • Alex Newsome • James Ramm • Triston Reilly • Henry Robertson • Mitch Short • Jack Walsh • Joey Walton |
| Coach | Rob Penney |
Force squad :
| Forwards | Ollie Atkins • Johan Bardoul • Ollie Callan • Pekahou Cowan • Tevin Ferris • Ben Grant • Dom Hardman • Victor Harris • Chris Heiberg • Greg Holmes • Feleti Kaitu'u • Kane Koteka • Fergus Lee-Warner • Kieran Longbottom • Jackson Pugh • Andrew Ready • Tom Sheminant • Brynard Stander • Henry Stowers • Heath Tessmann • Jeremy Thrush • Angus Wagner |
| Backs | Jake Abel • AJ Alatimu • Marcel Brache • Pama Fou • Nick Frisby • Kyle Godwin • Nick Jooste • Richard Kahui • Brad Lacey • Jono Lance • Jordan Luke • Grason Makara • Jack McGregor • Rory O'Sullivan • Jonah Placid • Ian Prior • Byron Ralston • Jake Strachan • Henry Taefu |
| Coach | Tim Sampson |