The 14th edition of the Super Rugby tournament kicks-off in Dunedin on Friday, 13 February when the Highlanders host the Brumbies in a trans-Tasman clash, according to the official draw released on Monday.

The Perth-based Western Force host the Blues later on the same day as the competition takes its Australian bow and the Johannesburg-based Lions will entertain the Cheetahs from Bloemfontein in a local derby as the first day's play is completed in South Africa.

The defending champion Crusaders begin their Super 14 campaign with a New Zealand derby match against the Chiefs in Christchurch the following day.

The Crusaders launch their hunt for an eighth Super Rugby crown on Saturday, 14 February as the 2008 semifinalists join the fray.

Losing finalists, the Waratahs, travel to the Hurricanes in the following match for a meeting between two of 2008's semifinalists.

The final remaining semifinalists — the Durban-based Sharks — travel down the South African coast to meet fellow South Africans, the Stormers, in Cape Town.

The competition retains its top-four play-off format for 2009, with the semifinals set to take place on the weekend of 22 and 23 May.

The 94-match tournament reaches its climax with the 2009 Super 14 Final a week later on 30 May.

2009 Super 14 draw: (All kick-off times are local)

WEEK 1:

Friday, 13 February:
Highlanders v Brumbies, Dunedin, 19.35
W Force v Blues, Perth, 19.45
Lions v Cheetahs, Johannesburg, 19.10

Saturday, 14 February:
Crusaders v Chiefs, Christchurch, 17.30
Hurricanes v Waratahs, Wellington , 19.35
Stormers v Sharks, Cape Town, 17.00
Bulls v Reds, Pretoria, 19.10

WEEK 2:

Friday, 20 February:
Hurricanes v Highlanders, Wellington , 19.35
Waratahs v Chiefs, Sydney, 19.40
W Force v Cheetahs, Perth, 19.45
Stormers v Reds, Cape Town, 19.10

Saturday, 21 February:
Brumbies v Crusaders, Canberra, 19.40
Bulls v Blues, Pretoria, 17.00
Sharks v Lions, Durban, 19.10

WEEK 3:

Friday, 27 February:
Crusaders v Hurricanes, Christchurch, 19.35
Waratahs v Highlanders, Sydney, 19.40
Chiefs v Sharks, Hamilton, 19.35

Saturday, 28 February:
Brumbies v W Force, Canberra, 19.40
Lions v Bulls, Johannesburg, 17.00
Stormers v Blues, Cape Town, 19.10
Reds v Cheetahs, Brisbane, 16.00

WEEK 4:

Friday, 6 March:
Chiefs v W Force, Hamilton, 19.35
Waratahs v Reds, Sydney, 19.40

Saturday, 7 March:
Hurricanes v Cheetahs, New Plymouth , 14.30
Blues v Sharks, Auckland, 17.30
Highlanders v Crusaders, Dunedin, 19.35
Bulls v Stormers, Pretoria, 17.00
* Byes: Brumbies/Lions

WEEK 5:

Friday, 13 March:
Blues v Cheetahs, North Harbour, 19.35
Brumbies v Waratahs, Canberra, 19.40

Saturday, 14 March:
Crusaders v W Force, Christchurch, 17.30
Highlanders v Chiefs, Invercargill, 19.35
Reds v Sharks , Brisbane, 19.05
Stormers v Lions, Cape Town, 17.00
* Byes: Hurricanes/Bulls

WEEK 6:

Friday, 20 March:
Hurricanes v Bulls, Wellington , 19.35

Saturday, 21 March:
Highlanders v Cheetahs, Dunedin, 17.30
Chiefs v Blues, Hamilton, 19.35
Waratahs v Crusaders, Sydney , 19.40
W Force v Sharks, Perth, 19.45
Lions v Brumbies, Johannesburg, 17.00
* Byes: Reds/Stormers

WEEK 7:

Friday, 27 March:
Blues v Waratahs, Auckland, 19.35

Saturday, 28 March:
Highlanders v Bulls, Palmerston North, 17.30
Crusaders v Stormers, Christchurch, 19.35
Reds v Chiefs, Brisbane, 19.05
Sharks v Brumbies, Durban, 17.00
Lions v Hurricanes, Johannesburg, 19.10
* Byes: Cheetahs/W Force

WEEK 8:

Friday, 3 April:
Crusaders v Bulls, Christchurch, 19.35
W Force v Reds, Perth, 19.05
Sharks v Hurricanes, Durban, 19.10

Saturday, 4 April:
Chiefs v Lions, Hamilton , 19.35
Waratahs v Stormers, Sydney, 19.40
Cheetahs v Brumbies, Bloemfontein, 15.00
* Byes: Blues/Highlanders

WEEK 9:

Friday, 10 April:
Blues v Lions, Auckland, 19.35
W Force v Hurricanes, Perth, 17.40

Saturday, 11 April:
Highlanders v Reds, Invercargill, 17.30
Brumbies v Stormers, Canberra, 17.35
Waratahs v Bulls, Sydney, 19.40
Cheetahs v Sharks, Bloemfontein, 15.00
* Byes: Chiefs/Crusaders

WEEK 10:

Friday, 17 April:
Blues v Highlanders, Auckland, 19.35
Brumbies v Bulls, Canberra, 19.40

Saturday, 18 April:
Hurricanes v Stormers, Wellington, 17.30
Reds v Lions , Brisbane, 17.35
Waratahs v W Force, Sydney, 19.40
Cheetahs v Chiefs, Kimberley, 15.00
Sharks v Crusaders, Durban, 17.05

WEEK 11:

Friday, 24 April:
Highlanders v Stormers, Dunedin, 19.35
W Force v Lions, Perth, 19.05

Saturday, 25 April:
Blues v Reds, North Harbour, 17.30
Hurricanes v Brumbies, Wellington, 19.35
Cheetahs v Crusaders, Bloemfontein, 15.00
Bulls v Chiefs, Pretoria, 17.05
* Byes: Waratahs/Sharks

WEEK 12:

Friday, 1 May:
Hurricanes v Blues, Wellington, 19.35
Lions v Crusaders, Johannesburg, 15.00
Cheetahs v Waratahs , Bloemfontein, 17.05

Saturday, 2 May:
Reds v Brumbies, Brisbane, 19.40
Sharks v Highlanders, Durban, 15.00
Bulls v W Force, Pretoria, 17.05
Stormers v Chiefs, Cape Town, 19.10

WEEK 13:

Friday, 8 May:
Crusaders v Reds, Christchurch, 19.35
Lions v Highlanders, Johannesburg, 19.10
Chiefs v Hurricanes, Hamilton, 19.35

Saturday, 9 May:
Brumbies v Blues, Canberra, 19.40
Sharks v Waratahs, Durban, 15.00
Bulls v Cheetahs, Pretoria, 17.05
Stormers v W Force, Cape Town, 19.10

WEEK 14:

Friday, 15 May:
Chiefs v Brumbies, Hamilton , 19.35
Lions v Waratahs, Johannesburg, 19.10

Saturday, 16 May:
Blues v Crusaders, Auckland, 19.35
Reds v Hurricanes, Brisbane, 19.40
W Force v Highlanders, Perth, 19.45
Cheetahs v Stormers, Bloemfontein, 16.00
Sharks v Bulls , Durban, 18.05

Week 15:

SEMIFINALS:
Friday, 22 May, TBC v TBC
Saturday, 23 May, TBC v TBC

Week 16:

FINAL:
Saturday, 30 May, TBC v TBC

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