Super Rugby has changed a lot since its inception in 1996. Through both expansion and reduction, it has featured teams from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Japan, and Pacific Island nations.
Though not every team is still in the tournament, let's examine every team that has ever competed in it.
| Team | Country | City/Region | Years Participated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blues | New Zealand | Auckland | 1996–Present |
| Chiefs | New Zealand | Hamilton | 1996–Present |
| Crusaders | New Zealand | Christchurch | 1996–Present |
| Highlanders | New Zealand | Dunedin | 1996–Present |
| Hurricanes | New Zealand | Wellington | 1996–Present |
| Moana Pasifika | Pacific Islands | Auckland | 2022–Present |
| Brumbies | Australia | Canberra | 1996–Present |
| Queensland Reds | Australia | Brisbane | 1996–Present |
| New South Wales Waratahs | Australia | Sydney | 1996–Present |
| Western Force | Australia | Perth | 2006–2017, 2021–Present |
| Melbourne Rebels | Australia | Melbourne | 2011–Present |
| Sunwolves | Japan | Tokyo | 2016–2020 |
| Bulls (Northern Transvaal) | South Africa | Pretoria | 1996–2020 |
| Stormers (Western Province) | South Africa | Cape Town | 1996–2020 |
| Sharks (Natal) | South Africa | Durban | 1996–2020 |
| Lions (Transvaal) | South Africa | Johannesburg | 1996–2020 |
| Cheetahs | South Africa | Bloemfontein | 2006–2017 |
| Southern Kings | South Africa | Port Elizabeth | 2013, 2016–2017 |
| Cats | South Africa | Johannesburg & Bloemfontein | 1998–2005 |
| Jaguares | Argentina | Buenos Aires | 2016–2020 |
New Zealand Teams
New Zealand has been the dominant force throughout the history of Super Rugby. The five teams, Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders, and Hurricanes, have all won at least one championship, and the very best teams have regularly excelled.
Blues
The Auckland-based Blues represent the regions of Northland, North Harbour, and Auckland. In the early years of Super Rugby, they were known for their physical forward pack and dynamic backline.
With stars like Carlos Spencer and Jonah Lomu, they won three titles in the late 1990s and early 200s.
Chiefs
The Chiefs represent the Waikato, Counties Manukau, and Bay of Plenty regions in New Zealand. Under Dave Rennie's stewardship, they won back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013.
The Chiefs also produced All-Black legends like Aaron Cruden, Brodie Retallick, and Damian McKenzie.
Crusaders
The Crusaders are the most successful team in Super Rugby History, with 12 titles, and have been successful in every decade of the competition's history.
Stars have included Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Kieran Read, and coaches Robbie Deans and Scott Robertson.
Highlanders
The Highlanders team represents the Otago, Southland, and North Otago regions and won their first and only Super Rugby title in 2015 against the Hurricanes.
They play rugby at the iconic Forsyth Barr Stadium and are strongly connected to the South Island's rugby culture.
Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are based in Wellington and represent the Wellington, Manawatu, and Hawke's Bay regions.
Their first title came in 2016, and the team has included legendary players like Beauden Barrett, Conrad Smith, and Tana Umaga.
Australian Teams
Australia has always had a strong representation in Super Rugby, but given New Zealand's domination of the tournament, Australian teams have gone through highs and lows with some success.
Brumbies
Based in Canberra, the Brumbies are Australia's most successful Super Rugby team, with two titles in the early 2000s.
They've been competitive throughout Super Rugby's history.
Queensland Reds
Representing the state of Queensland, the Queensland Reds have produced many Wallabies greats and won their first and only Super Rugby championship in 2011.
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs have a strong rugby heritage and are another Australian team to have won the Super Rugby championship.
With a consistently competitive squad, the Waratahs attract a passionate following.
Western Force
The Perth-based Western Force joined Super Rugby to expand the game's reach into an area of Australia where Australian Rules reigned supreme.
Though Western Force was cut from the competition in 2017, the team returned in 2021 under the new Pacific format that no longer featured teams from South Africa, Japan, or Argentina.
Melbourne Rebels
Melbourne Rebels were an expansion team for Super Rugby into the heartland of Australian Rules Football.
They've steadily developed a competitive squad and helped elevate rugby's status in the capital of Aussie Rules.
South African Teams
With a strong rugby heritage, South African teams have long been an important part of Super Rugby. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic and the restructuring of Super Rugby into Super Rugby Pacific, they no longer compete against the teams from Australia and New Zealand.
Bulls (Northern Transvaal)
The Bulls are the most successful South African team in Super Rugby history, with three titles. The matches at Loftus Versfeld Stadium are regularly filled with the team's passionate supporters.
Stormers (Western Province)
The Stormers were known for their strong defence and set-piece play. Though they never won a title, they did produce Springbok legends like Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger, and Siya Kolisi.
Sharks (Natal)
- Base: Durban, South Africa
- Active Years: 1996–2020
- Championships: None (Finalists: 1996, 2001, 2007, 2012)
- Key Facts:
- Known for physicality and powerful forwards.
Despite never winning the championship, the Sharks reached four finals. They were known for their tough and uncompromising style of rugby.
Lions (Transvaal)
The Lions reached three consecutive finals but narrowly lost out in each. A standout South African team, they were popular for exciting attacking rugby.
Cheetahs
The Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs played free-flowing, attacking rugby and spent just over a decade in Super Rugby. However, they never managed to play consistently.
Southern Kings
The Southern Kings were another South African team that lacked consistency, but the team deserves respect for providing opportunities to players from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
Cats
The Cats was the combined team representing the Lions and Cheetahs from 1998 to 2005. They reached the semi-finals in 2000 and 2001 but never managed anything greater.
Other Teams
Super Rugby regularly attempted to expand into regions further afield from the Pacific. These teams came from rugby nations and also emerging rugby markets.
Jaguares
The Jaguares were Argentina's only Super Rugby franchise and helped develop the country's top rugby talent. They reached the final in 2019 but lost to the Crusaders.
Sunwolves
The Tokyo-based Sunwolves were the only Asian team in Super Rugby and part of an expansion that sought to develop rugby in Japan ahead of the Rugby World Cup, which was held there in 2019.
Moana Pasifika
The Auckland-based Moan Pasifika team represents the rugby heritage of the Pacific Islands, including Samoa and Tonga.
This team joined as part of the Super Rugby Pacific competition structure to give Pacific Island rugby talent more opportunities.
There have been many teams throughout Super Rugby to have been and gone, but in the current format, it certainly looks like the competition has some longevity and some very good teams competing in the Southern Hemisphere's best international club rugby competition.
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