Sydney and Melbourne are set to face off in a new annual rugby grudge match, according to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald.
"The brainchild of the new Sydney Rugby Union, who take over the management of the Sydney club competition this month, the match has been scheduled as a curtain raiser to the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby home game against South Africa's Sharks on March 11.
"Sydney Rugby Union chairman Chris Birch said the selection processes for both city teams would ensure an even battle. "Melbourne will be using a lot of the players they've got who are on Super Rugby contracts who may not be playing in the main game," he said on Wednesday. "Whereas our team will be chosen purely from the 12 clubs in Sydney."
"The launch of the Rebels in the 2011 Super Rugby competition will give the game a huge boost in Victoria, Birch said, while the annual curtain raiser will give an "edge to intercity rivalry".
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