Super 14 creates travel odyssey

The Hurricanes will play the five South African teams in successive weeks according to a leaked version of the inaugural Super 14 rugby draw.

The Hurricanes' South African experience starts in New Zealand in round three against the Cats, according to details published in South Africa's Sunday Times yesterday.

They then head to South Africa for a road trip starting against the new Central Cheetahs franchise in Bloemfontein, followed by the Stormers in Cape Town and the Bulls in Pretoria before returning to meet the Sharks at home in round seven, the Dominion Post reported today.

The expanded competition is set to kick off on the weekend of February 10-12, two weeks earlier than this year's Super 12, with the semifinals scheduled for the weekend of May 19-21 and the final on May 27.

Features of the opening round will be the Western Force's debut match in Perth against the ACT Brumbies and the Cheetahs' first match at home, against the Bulls.

The Crusaders kick off their campaign with a local derby against the Highlanders in Christchurch.

South African teams the Cats and the Sharks face the daunting long international tours thrown up by the new-look 14-team competition.

Both sides will be overseas for five weeks from round three, two games and two weeks more than any of the Australian and New Zealand teams.

They also face the additional hurdle of having to cross the Tasman twice.

The Cats start their trip against the Hurricanes then fly back to Australia for matches against the Brumbies and Waratahs, before returning to New Zealand to play the Crusaders and the Highlanders.

The Sharks play the Crusaders, Waratahs, Brumbies, Highlanders and Hurricanes in consecutive weeks.

However, the draw is provisional and subject to change as it has to be accepted by all teams in the competition.

- nzpa