The ACT Brumbies will take the toughest road to the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman title as they get set to spend three weeks on the road against New Zealand's best teams.
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The Brumbies will revive the days of Super Rugby tours, setting up camp on New Zealand soil for three weeks in a move covered by tournament costs.
Officials have abandoned plans for a Super Round, which would have brought all 10 clubs to one venue on the same weekend in round three.
Instead the five matches will be taken to different venues, with the Brumbies' May 29 clash with the Auckland Blues set to be played at Eden Park.
Australia's reigning champions will now launch their campaign with three games across the ditch - and all three come against Super Rugby Aotearoa's top three teams.
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The Brumbies open their Trans-Tasman campaign against the Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch before backing up to face the Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton.
Now Dan McKellar's side will have to front up in New Zealand again to face the Blues in Auckland.
"We'll base ourselves over there. We'll probably go over on the Thursday before we play the Crusaders. We're on tour basically for three games," Brumbies chief executive Phil Thomson said.
"We would have been really keen to have [the home game against the Blues]. It would have been great for the team to finish off the competition with three home games in Canberra.
"It wasn't to be, so we'll make the most of the trip to New Zealand now. Basically it was up to each of the organisations to come up with the best commercial outcome.
"In discussions with the Blues, we wanted the game here, they wanted the game there, so the decision was made by the governing bodies and the broadcasters as to where our match was.
"Now we've got three games in a row in New Zealand."
The Melbourne Rebels and Western Force will also play three games in New Zealand. Melbourne face the Otago Highlanders, Wellington Hurricanes and the Chiefs, while the Force face the Hurricanes, Crusaders and Blues.
"It's going to be three very tough games, they've very passionate about rugby over there. I'm sure the boys look forward to the challenge," Thomson said.
"It's going to be a good test for the team but they're looking forward to the tour. The boys don't mind being on tour, they've got a good record away in South Africa and that sort of stuff.
"They'll make the most of it and enjoy the experience."
First comes the Super Rugby AU finals, with the Brumbies set to host a qualifying final at Canberra Stadium on May 1.
Tickets have gone on sale with the Brumbies pushing for a big crowd to help them over the line in search of a grand final berth.