(Reuters) - Fijian Drua will be based in Australia for the inaugural season of the Super Rugby Pacific competition next year to avoid potential travel complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiji Rugby said on Friday.

The new 12-team competition https://www.reuters.com/article/rugby-union-super-idUKL4N2Q11BA announced by New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia is set to begin on Feb. 18 and will have a three-week playoffs schedule in May-June, wrapping up before the July international window.