April 4 (Reuters) - Australia's Super Rugby teams must have the opportunity to face their New Zealand counterparts after missing out on cross-Tasman clashes last year, says Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn.
Teams from the two nations have not played one another due to travel restrictions put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Thorn wants those meetings to resume this season.
"It needs to happen," he said after the Super Rugby AU leaders handed the Melbourne Rebels a 44-19 defeat on Saturday.
"I think we need to play them, this comp needs to play them and it's good that they play us. Let's make that happen.
"Obviously we're focused on the here and now, but it's good for rugby and I just think that would be a positive thing to happen."
The Reds lead the Super Rugby AU standings, having won all six of their matches so far this season.
Teams from Australia and New Zealand did not play each other in 2020 after the Super Rugby competition was reconfigured to be played on national lines.
A combined competition, Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, is scheduled to be played this year, with the five teams from each of the two nations slated to meet one another from mid-May.