The Wallabies will be well rested for next year’s Lions tour Down Under after Australia’s Super Rugby sides were handed an extended break.
There had been concerns that Australia would be undercooked for the visit of Lions next summer.
But SANZAR have confirmed the Wallabies will have at least 13-days to prepare between Round 13 of the Super Rugby season and the first Test on June 22.
"While the Lions tour obviously added an element of complexity when it came to designing the Super Rugby draw, SANZAR has worked through that process and come up with elegant solutions," said ARU chief executive John O'Neill.
"In 2013, Australian Rugby fans will get the best of both worlds … a Super Rugby competition that continues to grow in stature and status, and a tour by the British and Irish Lions for the first time in 12 years.
"When the Lions were last in Australia in 2001, it was an historic season for the game in this country. Apart from the success of that tour by one of the world's most iconic sporting teams, an Australian side won the Super Rugby title for the first time ever."
Only Australian teams will contest Round One and 17 of the Super Rugby season, while they will be absent from the action in Rounds 18 and 19.
The Lions tour will overlap with ACT Brumbies’ clash with Melbourne Rebels and Western Force’s battle with NSW Waratahs.
But the remainder of the tour will take place in the June break, which has been extended for Australian sides.
"The Lions tour to Australia presented some unique challenges in preparing the 2013 Super Rugby draw," said SANZAR CEO Greg Peters.
Defending champions, the Chiefs will kick-off their defence against the Highlanders in Dunedin on February 22.
The Finals Series starts on July 19, with the final to be played on August 3.
