Eleven time champion Crusaders (red) and three-time champion Bulls competing for a line-out

Super Rugby is the major professional rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere.[1] The competition began as Super 12 in 1996, consisting of 12 teams from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. An extra Australian and South African team were added in 2005 and the name was changed to Super 14. A fifteenth team joined in 2011 and the competition was rebranded as Super Rugby.[1] The current format consists of three conferences of five teams from each country. Teams play other members of their conference twice (home and away) and four teams from each of the other two conferences once. The top team in each conference and the next best three over all conferences advance to the finals.[2] In all previous formats there were no conferences and each team played every team once, with the top four progressing to the finals. The tournament is organised and governed by SANZAAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentine Rugby). Super Rugby is considered a successor to the Super Six (1992) and Super 10 (1993–1995), although SANZAR did not administer those tournaments.[3]

Champions

Year No. of Teams Final Losing semi-finalists
Winners Score Runners-up 1st losing semi-finalists 2nd losing semi-finalists
1996 12 New Zealand Auckland Blues 45–21 South Africa Natal Sharks Australia Queensland Reds South Africa Northern Transvaal
1997 12 New Zealand Auckland Blues 23–7 Australia ACT Brumbies New Zealand Wellington Hurricanes South Africa Sharks
1998 12 New Zealand Canterbury Crusaders 20–13 New Zealand Auckland Blues South Africa Sharks New Zealand Otago Highlanders
1999 12 New Zealand Canterbury Crusaders 24–19 New Zealand Otago Highlanders Australia Queensland Reds South Africa Stormers
2000 12 New Zealand Crusaders 20–19 Australia Brumbies New Zealand Highlanders South Africa Cats
2001 12 Australia Brumbies 36–6 South Africa Sharks South Africa Cats Australia Reds
2002 12 New Zealand Crusaders 31–13 Australia Brumbies Australia Waratahs New Zealand Highlanders
2003 12 New Zealand Blues 21–17 New Zealand Crusaders New Zealand Hurricanes Australia Brumbies
2004 12 Australia Brumbies 47–38 New Zealand Crusaders South Africa Stormers New Zealand Chiefs
2005 12 New Zealand Crusaders 35–25 Australia Waratahs South Africa Bulls New Zealand Hurricanes
2006 14 New Zealand Crusaders 19–12 New Zealand Hurricanes Australia Waratahs South Africa Bulls
2007 14 South Africa Bulls 20–19 South Africa Sharks New Zealand Crusaders New Zealand Blues
2008 14 New Zealand Crusaders 20–12 Australia Waratahs South Africa Sharks New Zealand Hurricanes
2009 14 South Africa Bulls 61–17 New Zealand Chiefs New Zealand Hurricanes New Zealand Crusaders
2010 14 South Africa Bulls 25–17 South Africa Stormers New Zealand Crusaders Australia Waratahs
2011 15 Australia Reds 18–13 New Zealand Crusaders New Zealand Blues South Africa Stormers
2012 15 New Zealand Chiefs 37–6 South Africa Sharks New Zealand Crusaders South Africa Stormers
2013 15 New Zealand Chiefs 27–22 Australia Brumbies New Zealand Crusaders South Africa Bulls
2014 15 Australia Waratahs 33–32 New Zealand Crusaders South Africa Sharks Australia Brumbies
2015 15 New Zealand Highlanders 21–14 New Zealand Hurricanes Australia Waratahs Australia Brumbies
2016 18 New Zealand Hurricanes 20–3 South Africa Lions New Zealand Chiefs New Zealand Highlanders
2017 18 New Zealand Crusaders 25–17 South Africa Lions New Zealand Chiefs New Zealand Hurricanes
2018 15 New Zealand Crusaders 37–18 South Africa Lions New Zealand Hurricanes Australia Waratahs
2019 15 New Zealand Crusaders 19-3 Argentina Jaguares Australia Brumbies New Zealand Hurricanes
2020 15 season cancelled — — — —
2021 10 Regional competitions played, no official champions — — — —
2022 12 New Zealand Crusaders 21–7 New Zealand Blues New Zealand Chiefs Australia Brumbies
2023 12 New Zealand Crusaders 25–20 New Zealand Chiefs New Zealand Blues Australia Brumbies

By team

Team Combined Super 12 Super 14 Super Rugby
New Zealand Crusaders 12 5 2 5
New Zealand Blues 3 3 0 0
South Africa Bulls 3 0 3 0
Australia Brumbies 2 2 0 0
New Zealand Chiefs 2 0 0 2
Australia Reds 1 0 0 1
Australia Waratahs 1 0 0 1
New Zealand Highlanders 1 0 0 1
New Zealand Hurricanes 1 0 0 1
Totals2610511

By country

Country Winning teams Combined Super 12 Super 14 Super Rugby
New Zealand New Zealand Crusaders
Blues
Chiefs
Highlanders
Hurricanes		 19 8 2 9
Australia Australia Brumbies
Reds
Waratahs		 4 2 0 2
South Africa South Africa Bulls 3 0 3 0
Totals92610511

Competition structure

1996–2010

Every season, each team played every other team once, in a round-robin. The venues for regular season matches alternated each year, therefore teams would not play one another at the same venue in consecutive seasons unless they met in the play-offs. The tournament used the rugby union bonus points system; teams were awarded four points for a win, two for a draw, and none for a loss. They received bonus points for scoring four or more tries in a match, and for a loss by seven or fewer points.[4]

After each team had completed their regular season matches, the top 4 teams qualified for the semi-finals. Semi-finals were held under a Shaughnessy playoff system; the first-placed team in the table hosted the fourth-placed, and second hosted third. The winner of each semi-final advanced to the final, held at the home ground of whichever team amassed more points in the round-robin table.[5]

2011–2015

In 2011, Melbourne Rebels joined the Super Rugby competition, meaning that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa would each be represented by five teams. The tournament format was also changed. Teams are divided into three conferences; one per country.[6] Each team plays other teams in the same conference home and away, and plays eight further matches against teams from other conferences, for a total of sixteen games.[7] Each team receives two byes throughout a season; from 2014 no points are added to the team's total on the day a bye is allocated.[8] The highest placed team in each conference qualifies for the finals stage, along with three highest scoring teams which were not conference winners. The two highest scoring teams advance straight to the semi-finals, while the 3rd to 6th placed teams play-off to decide which two teams advance to the semis. The format of the semi-finals and final is the same as that previously used in the Super 14.[9] The bonus points system has also been retained, with the single addition that a team receives four points for each bye.[10]

2016–2020

2016 saw the tournament expand to 18 teams with the inclusion of an Argentine team and Japanese team. The South African conference was split in two with the Sunwolves in South African conference 1 and Jaguares in South African conference 2. South African conference 1 teams will play Australian and New Zealand teams in alternative years with South African conference 2 teams. Every team plays 16 games in the regular season with the top 8 teams qualifying for the quarter-finals 1 v 8 etc. with each conference winner being seeded 1–4.

2020–

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 Super Rugby season was suspended, and then ultimately cancelled. Regional tournaments were set up to complete the 2020 season, with Super Rugby AU played in Australia, Super Rugby Aotearoa played in New Zealand and Super Rugby Unlocked played in South Africa. The Jaguares and Sunwolves didn't compete in these regional tournaments, while the Western Force competed in Super Rugby AU and the Cheetahs, Griquas and Pumas competed in Super Rugby Unlocked. Only Super Rugby AU had a final as such for 2020, with a qualifying final and then final. Following the 2020 season, the South African sides withdrew from Super Rugby, while the Jaguares and Sunwolves also left the competition. Therefore, in 2021 only 10 teams competed in Super Rugby, again in regional tournaments with the addition of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman played between both Australian and New Zealand sides. A final was added to the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition in 2021, while a qualifying final and then final was again played in Super Rugby AU. Super Rugby Trans-Tasman will also have a final.

Tournaments

Key

Symbol Meaning
† Champions
Games Regular season record
Points Regular season points scored and conceded
Diff Difference between points scored and conceded
BP Bonus points
TP Table points

Teams mentioned are those that qualified for the play-off rounds. Results are written so that the score of the team in each row is mentioned first. The highlighted team won that season's Super Rugby final.[11][12]

Note. For 1996 and 1997, it was the policy of the South African Rugby Union to send the top four teams of the previous year's Currie Cup to the Super 12. This resulted in the Sharks, Transvaal, Northern Transvaal and Western Province playing in 1996 and the Sharks, the Gauteng Lions, Free State Cheetahs and Northern Transvaal playing in 1997. In 1998, South Africa set up four (and later five, then six) Super Rugby regions, similar to the policy adopted by the New Zealand Rugby Union. For these areas, please see Super Rugby franchise areas.[11]

Super 12 (1996–2005)

Super 12 annual playoff teams and Champion (1996–2005)
Year Duration Table position Team Games Points BP TP Semi score Final score Refs
played won drawn lost for against diff
1996 28 February –
31 May		 1Reds11902320247+7354125–43— [13]
2New Zealand Blues †11803408354+5494148–1145–21
3Northern Transvaal11803329208+12163811–48—
4Sharks11605389277+11293343–2521–45
1997 1 March –
25 May
1New Zealand Blues †111010435283+15285055–3623–7 [14]
2Brumbies11803406291+11594133–207–23
3Hurricanes11605416314+102103420–33—
4Sharks11524321350–2963036–55—
1998 27 February –
30 May		 1Blues11902388296+9274337–3113–20 [15]
2New Zealand Crusaders †11803340260+8094136–3220–13
3Coastal Sharks11704329263+6683632–36—
4Highlanders11704343279+6463431–37—
1999 26 February –
30 May		 1Reds11812233170+6323622–28— [16]
2Stormers11803290244+4643618–33—
3Highlanders11803280203+7733533–1819–24
4New Zealand Crusaders †11713322262+6033328–2224–19
2000 25 February –
27 May		 1Brumbies11902393196+19794528–519–20 [17]
2New Zealand Crusaders †11803369293+7673937–1520–19
3Highlanders11605310280+3083215–37—
4Cats11704320334–144325–28—
2001 23 February –
26 May
1Australia Brumbies †11803348204+14484036–636–6 [18]
2Sharks11803322246+7663830–126–36
3Cats11704285244+4163412–30—
4Reds11605300277+238326–36—
2002 22 February –
25 May
1New Zealand Crusaders †111100469264+20575134–2331–13 [19]
2Waratahs11803337284+5373910–51—
3Brumbies11704374230+144103851–1013–31
4Highlanders11803329207+12263823–34—
2003 21 February –
24 May
1New Zealand Blues †111001393185+20894942–2121–17 [20]
2Crusaders11803358263+9584039–1617–21
3Hurricanes11704324284+4073516–39—
4Brumbies11605358313+4573121–42—
2004 20 February –
22 May
1 Australia Brumbies †11803408269+13984032–1747–38 [21]
2Crusaders11704345303+4263427–1638–47
3Stormers11704286260+2653316–27—
4Chiefs11704274251+2353317–32—
2005 25 February –
28 May
1New Zealand Crusaders †11902459281+17894547–735–25 [22]
2Waratahs11902322174+14884423–1325–35
3Bulls11704301229+7263413–23—
4Hurricanes11803281248+332347–47—

Super 14 (2006–2010)

Super 14 annual playoff teams and Champion (2006–2010)
Year Duration Table position Team Games Points BP TP Semi score Final score Refs
played won drawn lost for against diff
2006 February 10 –
May 27
1New Zealand Crusaders †131111412210+20255135–1519–12 [23]
2Hurricanes131003328226+10274716–1412–19
3Waratahs13904362192+17094514–16—
4Bulls13715355290+6573815–35—
2007 February 2 –
May 19
1Sharks131003355214+14154534–1819–20 [24]
2South Africa Bulls †13904388223+16564227–1220-19
3Crusaders13805382235+147104212–27—
4Blues13904355235+12064218–34—
2008 February 15 –
May 31
1New Zealand Crusaders †131102369176+19385233–2220-12 [25]
2Waratahs13913255186+6954328–1312–20
3Sharks13913271209+6244213–28—
4Hurricanes13814310204+10674122–33—
2009 February 13 –
May 30
1South Africa Bulls †131003338271+6764636–2361-17 [26]
2Chiefs13904338236+10294514–1017–61
3Hurricanes13904380279+10184410–14—
4Crusaders13814231198+3374123–36—
2010 February 12 –
May 29
1 South Africa Bulls †131003436345+9174739–2425–17 [27]
2Stormers13904365171+19484425–617–25
3Waratahs13904385288+977436–25—
4Crusaders13814388295+9374124–39—

Super Rugby (2011–)

Six team playoff tournament (2011–2015)
Super Rugby annual playoff teams and Champion (2011– 2015)
Year Duration Table position Team Conference
position		 Games Points BP TP Qualifier score Semi score Final score Refs
played won drawn lost for against diff
2011 February 18 –
July 9
1Australia Reds †1161303429309+120666—30-1318–13 [28]
2Stormers1161204400257+143763—10-29—
3Crusaders1161114436273+16376136-829-1013-18
4Blues2161015405335+70106026-1313-30—
5Waratahs2161006398252+14695713–26——
6Sharks2161015407339+687578–36——
2012 February 24 –
August 4
1Stormers1161402350254+96266—19-26— [29][30]
2New Zealand Chiefs †1161204444358+86864—20-1737-6
3Reds1161105359347+1265817-30——
4Crusaders2161105485343+14296128-1317-20—
5Bulls2161006472369+103115913-28—
6Sharks3161006436348+88115930-1726-196-37
2013 February 16 –
August 4
1New Zealand Chiefs †1161204458364+941066—20-1927-22 [31][32]
2Bulls1161204448330+118763—23-26—
3Crusaders2161105446307+13986038-919-20—
4Brumbies1161024430295+13586015-1326-2322-27
5Reds2161024321296+256589-38——
6Cheetahs2161006382258+2465413-15——
2014 February 16 –
August 2
1Australia Waratahs †1161204481272+2091058—26-833-32 [33]
2Crusaders1161105445322+123751—38-632-33
3Sharks1161105406203+11365031-276-38—
4Brumbies2161006412378+3454532-308-26—
5Chiefs216826384378+684430-32——
6Highlanders316808401442-41104227-31——
2015 February 13 –
July 4
1Hurricanes1161402458288+1701066—29-914-21 [34]
2Waratahs1161105409313+9685217-3517-35—
3Stormers1161015373323+5034519-39——
4New Zealand Highlanders †2161105450333+11795324-1435-1721-14
5Chiefs3161006372299+7384814-24——
6Brumbies216907369261+108114739-199-29—
Eight team playoff tournament (2016–)
Super Rugby annual playoff teams and Champion (2016– )
Year Duration Table
position		 Team Conference
position		 Qualifying
path		 Games Points BP TP QF score Semi score Final score Refs
played won drawn lost for against diff
2016 February 26 –
August 6
1New Zealand Hurricanes †11st NZ Conf151104458314+14495341–025–920–3 [35]
2Lions11st AF2 Conf151104535349+18685242–2542–303–20
3Highlanders2NZ/AU wc151104422273+14985215–930–42—
4Chiefs3NZ/AU wc151104491341150+75160–219–25—
5Stormers11st AF1 Conf151014440274+16695121–60——
6Crusaders4NZ/AU wc151104487317+17065025–42——
7Brumbies11st AU Conf151005425326+993439–15——
8Sharks2AF wc15915360269+915430–41——
2017 February 23 –
August 5
1Lions11st AF2 Conf15140159026832296523–2144–2917–25 [36]
2New Zealand Crusaders †11st NZ Conf151401544303+24176317–027–1325–17
3Stormers11st AF1 Conf151005490436+5434311–17——
4Brumbies11st AU Conf15609315295+20103416–35——
5Hurricanes2NZ/AU wc151203596272+324105835–1644–29—
6Chiefs3NZ/AU wc151212433292+14175717–1113–27—
7Highlanders4NZ/AU wc151104488308+1807510–17——
8Sharks2AF wc15915408354+5444621–23——
2018 February 17 –
August 4
1New Zealand Crusaders †11st NZ Conf161402542295+24776340–1030–1227–18 [37]
2Lions11st SA Conf16907519435+84104640–2344–2618–27
3Waratahs11st AU Conf16916557445+11264430–2326–44—
4Hurricanes2NZ wc161105474343+13174332–1112–30—
5Chiefs3NZ wc161105463368+9554931–32——
6Highlanders4NZ wc161006437445-844423–30——
7Jaguares2SA wc16907409418−923823–40——
8Sharks3SA wc16718437442−563610–40——
2019 February 15 –
July 6
1New Zealand Crusaders †11st NZ Conf161132497257+24085838–1430–2619–3 [38]
2Jaguares11st SA Conf161105461352+10975121–1639–73–19
3Brumbies11st AU Conf161006430366+6484838–137–39—
4Hurricanes2NZ wc161213449362+8735335–2826–30—
5Bulls2SA wc16826410369+4154128–35——
6Sharks3SA wc16718343335+873713–38——
7Chiefs3NZ wc16727451465−1443616–21——
8Highlanders4NZ wc16637441392+4963614–38——
2020 January 31 –
March 14
season cancelled
2021 February 19 –
June 19
regional competitions played, no official champions
2022 February 18 –
June 18
1BluesN/AN/A141301472284+18865835–620–197–21 [39]
2New Zealand Crusaders †N/AN/A141103470268+20285237–1520–721–7
3ChiefsN/AN/A141004453348+10554539–157–20—
4BrumbiesN/AN/A141004404306+9844435–2519–20—
5HurricanesN/AN/A14806441330+11173925–35——
6WaratahsN/AN/A14806365317+4863815–39——
7RedsN/AN/A14806342327+1533515–37——
8HighlandersN/AN/A144010348345+37236–35——
2023 February 24 –
June 24
1ChiefsN/AN/A141301487261+22675929–2019–620–25 [40]
2New Zealand Crusaders †N/AN/A141004457278+17984849–852–1525–20
3BluesN/AN/A141004446292+15464641–1215–52—
4BrumbiesN/AN/A141004474393+8164637–336–19—
5HurricanesN/AN/A14905480338+14254133–37——
6WaratahsN/AN/A14608387408−2173112–41——
7DruaN/AN/A14608370492−1222268–49——
8RedsN/AN/A14509391451−6042420–29——

Regional competitions champions

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, regionalised tournaments were played for the remainder of the 2020 Super Rugby season and the 2021 Super Rugby season. Those competitions were: Super Rugby AU (Australia), Super Rugby Aotearoa (New Zealand), Super Rugby Unlocked (South Africa) and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman (Australia & New Zealand).

YearSuper Rugby AUSuper Rugby AotearoaSuper Rugby UnlockedSuper Rugby Trans-Tasman
2020 BrumbiesCrusadersBulls—
2021 RedsCrusaders—*Blues

* South Africa withdrew from all Super Rugby competitions at the end of the 2020 Super Rugby season.

References

  1. 1 2 "SANZAR release 2011 Super 15 Fixtures". Sports Digital Media. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  2. ↑ "How will the new Super Rugby format work?". Sports Digital Media. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  3. ↑ "Super 12: The history". Rugby365.com. Primedia. 23 May 2006. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  4. ↑ "New points system in the works for Super Rugby". Rugbyweek. Sports Digital Media. 29 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  5. ↑ "Super Rugby". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Conferences". Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  7. ↑ "Competition snapshot". Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  8. ↑ "Super Rugby drops four point rule for byes". SANZAR. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Finals format". Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "Super Rugby standings". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  11. 1 2 McIlraith, Matt (2005). Ten Years of Super 12. Hodder Moa. ISBN 1-86971-025-8.
  12. ↑ "Match and tournament archive/ Super Rugby". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  13. ↑ "Super 12 1996 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  14. ↑ "Super 12 1997 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  15. ↑ "Super 12 1998 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  16. ↑ "Super 12 1999 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  17. ↑ "Super 12 2000 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  18. ↑ "Super 12 2001 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  19. ↑ "Super 12 2002 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  20. ↑ "Super 12 2003 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  21. ↑ "Super 12 2004 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  22. ↑ "Super 12 2005 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  23. ↑ "Super 14 2006 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  24. ↑ "Super 14 2007 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  25. ↑ "Super 14 2008 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  26. ↑ "Super 14 2009 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  27. ↑ "Super 14 2010 results". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  28. ↑ "Super Rugby Standings - 2011". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  29. ↑ "Super Rugby Standings - 2012". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  30. ↑ "Super Rugby Results - 2012 (w/playoffs)". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  31. ↑ "Super Rugby Standings - 2013". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  32. ↑ "Super Rugby Results - 2013 (w/playoffs)". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  33. ↑ "Super Rugby Standings - 2014". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  34. ↑ "Super Rugby Standings - 2015". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  35. ↑ "Super Rugby Points Table - 2016". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  36. ↑ "Super Rugby Standings - 2017". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  37. ↑ "Super Rugby Standings - 2018". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  38. ↑ "Super Rugby Standings - 2019". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  39. ↑ "Super Rugby Standings - 2019". SANZAAR. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  40. ↑ "Super Rugby Standings - 2019". SANZAAR. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
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