Super Rugby is the Southern Hemisphere's top professional rugby union competition for club teams. It showcases the best teams, players, and rugby in the world.
It's changed significantly since its beginnings in the early 1990s with expansions, reductions, and a complete change to the competition, teams, and format.
Let's explore what Super Rugby is, who plays it, its history, and what's next for the competition.
What Is Rugby?
Super Rugby is played using rugby union rules. This means there are 15 players: 8 forwards (focusing on scrums, rucks, and physical play) and 7 backs (specialising in speed, passing, and kicking). Points are scored through tries (5 points), conversions (2 points), penalties (3 points), and drop goals (3 point).
- Tries are when the player legally grounds the ball in the opponent's goal area.
- Conversions are kicks given after a try where if the ball is kicked between the goalposts and over the crossbar, the points are scored.
- Penalty kicks are given for certain infringements. If these are scored, just like a conversion, the 3 points are awarded.
- A drop goal is worth three points and this is given when a player kicks the ball through the goalposts during open player after it has bounced off the ground.
Rugby union differs from the NRL (rugby league), another popular type of rugby. Both sports share a number of similarities, but NRL features 13 players with fewer stoppages and faster play. In NRL, there are 4 points for a try rather than 5.
The Rich History of Super Rugby
Super Rugby has always been a hotbed of competition, with different teams constantly striving to outdo each other.
1992-1995: Super 6
It started in 1992 as the Super 6 competition, which featured teams from New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji, though it didn't stay like that for long.
The original six teams to feature in the tournament were:
- Auckland (New Zealand)
- Canterbury (New Zealand)
- Wellington (New Zealand)
- Queensland (Australia)
- New South Wales (Australia)
- Fiji national team
In 1993, Super 6 became Super 10 and included South African teams like Natal (Sharks), Transvaal (Lions), and Western Province (Stormers). At this point, however, the competition wasn't professional.
1996-2005: Super 12
In 1996, SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia Rugby) was formed, and the Super 12 competition was launched.
This competition was professional and far more structured than the earlier iterations. The original 12 teams featuring in this tournament were:
- New Zealand Teams: Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Hurricanes, Highlanders
- Australian Teams: Brumbies, Reds, Waratahs
- South African Teams: Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Lions
New Zealand teams tended to dominate in the earlier (and later) years. The Blues and Crusaders were early powerhouses in the competition, with the Blues winning the first title in 1996.
2006-2010: Super 14
After a decade, Super 12 expanded to Super 14, with an extra team from Australia and South Africa.
Western Force from Australia was introduced to attempt to develop rugby in an area of the country that favoured Australian Rules Football.
With 14 teams, each played 13 matches, playing every opponent once. The South African team, the Bulls, was particularly successful, winning titles in 2007, 2009, and 2010.
2011-2015: Super 15
Super Rugby expanded again in 2011 to 15 teams, adding the Melbourne Rebels, another team from an area where Australian Rules Football was hugely popular.
During this time, the conference format was introduced, putting teams into regional groups: New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Teams played their conference rivals more often than the other teams.
2016-2017: Super 18
If you're sick of increasing that number, you're not alone. The Super 18 extension was an overreach by the competition.
The competition overextended with the addition of the Sunwolves from Japan, the Jaugares from Argentina, and the Southern Kings from South Africa.
The four-conference system was logistically complicated, diluted the overall quality of the competition, and put teams under financial strain.
2018-2019: Super 15 (Again)
In 2018, Super Rugby returned to the more successful 15-team format but removed the Western Force, Cheetahs, and Southern Kings.
The conference system was kept to maintain regional rivalries and keep the competition more sustainable and streamlined.
2020-2021: Regional Super Rugby
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in the cancellation of the season. Though the season had started, it was suspended indefinitely as travel restrictions made most domestic and international sporting events impossible.
Instead of the international tournament, three regional tournaments were held in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.
The Super Rugby Aotearoa in New Zealand, Super Rugby AU in Australia, and Super Rugby Unlocked in South Africa allowed the teams in each of these countries to continue playing. However, this did mean that the Argentine team, the Jaguares, couldn't compete at all, and most of the team's players left to play rugby elsewhere.
2022-Present: Super Rugby Pacific
Rather than reverting to the Super 15 format once restrictions were ended, Super Rugby opted to create a more streamlined and geographically coherent competition: Super Rugby Pacific.
This competition features 12 teams, focusing on New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Including Pacific Island teams Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua added a new cultural and competitive dimension to the league, with Pacific Island fans also bringing a great atmosphere to matches.
Super Rugby Pacific Teams
The competition has changed significantly over the decades. Let's see which teams play in the Super Rugby Pacific competition and their respective contributions to the sport.
The 12 teams competing include 5 New Zealand teams, 5 Australian teams, and 2 Pacific Island teams.
New Zealand Teams
- Blues – Based in Auckland; 4 championships (1996, 1997, 2003, 2024).
- Chiefs – Based in Hamilton; 2 championships (2012, 2013).
- Crusaders – Based in Christchurch, the most successful team with 12 titles.
- Highlanders – Based in Dunedin; 1 championship (2015).
- Hurricanes – Based in Wellington; 1 championship (2016).
Australian Teams
- Brumbies – Based in Canberra; 2 championships (2001, 2004).
- Queensland Reds – Based in Brisbane; 1 championship (2011).
- New South Wales Waratahs – Based in Sydney; 1 championship (2014).
- Western Force – Based in Perth; known for resilience and development.
- Melbourne Rebels – Based in Melbourne; focused on growing rugby in Victoria.
Pacific Island Teams
- Moana Pasifika – Based in Auckland; representing Samoa and Tonga.
- Fijian Drua – Based in Suva; representing Fiji.
Super Rugby Format
In its current format, each team in Super Rugby Pacific plays 14 matches during the regular season.
Teams face off against every other team at least once, with extra rounds against regional rivals.
At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams advance to the playoffs, which are a knockout bracket resulting in a final in which the Super Rugby Pacific champion is crowned.
Points System
- Win: 4 points
- Draw: 2 points
- Loss: 0 points
- 1 bonus point for scoring 3 or more tries than the opponent.
- 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points or fewer.
The Legacy and Future of Super Rugby
Super Rugby is the cornerstone of top-level rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere. Throughout the history of Super Rugby, it has produced incredible players and unforgettable rugby matches.
Though the tournament has changed a lot throughout its history with new teams, countries, and formats, the passion for rugby remains.
The recent inclusion and promotion of Pacific Island teams like Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua have brought a broader appeal to the sport by including rugby-loving nations and peoples.
Memorable Super Rugby Moments
If you're new to Super Rugby and want to get into the competition, we recommend looking back at some of its most memorable moments.
The competition has had plenty of thrilling, dramatic, and unforgettable moments. These are a good place to start if you're looking for examples of what makes it so great.
1. 1996: The Blues Win the Inaugural Super 12 Title
The first Super Rugby final is historic. The Blues, led by the legendary Zinzan Brooke, featured stars like Jonah Lomu and Carlos Spencer.
They defeated the Sharks 45-21 at Eden Park in Auckland, and the emphatic victory was only the beginning for New Zealand franchises in the competition, who'd go on to dominate for years.
2. 1998: Crusaders’ First Championship Win
In 1998, another New Zealand team won its first championship. The Crusaders beat the Blues 20-13 at Eden Park, marking a turning point for the team.
This was the team that finished last in the first season, but with great players like Todd Blackadder and Andrew Mehrtens playing their best rugby, the Crusaders would go on to be the competition's most successful franchise.
3. 2000: Crusaders Clinch the Title with a Last-Minute Try
Rugby can produce some incredible events, and the finish to the 2000 Super Rugby final between the Crusaders and the Brumbies in Canberra was pretty dramatic.
The Crusaders' James Kerr scored a decisive try in the match's dying moments, securing a 20-19 victory for the team.
This was the Crusaders' third consecutive title, and by this point, it was pretty clear that this was a special team.
4. Bulls Win South Africa's First Super Rugby Title
For some time, Super Rugby was dominated by New Zealand teams. However, in 2007, an all-South African match between the Bulls and the Sharks meant that the championship wouldn't call New Zealand home for at least a year.
Ultimately, the Bulls won 20-19 and the first Super Rugby championship for a South African team.
5. 2011: The Reds' Triumphant Victory over the Crusaders
In the 2011 final between the Queensland Reds and the Crusaders in Brisbane, the Reds won following a brilliant solo try from Genia in the second half.
This was the Reds' first-ever Super Rugby title.
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