Super Rugby 2016

RUGBY UNION – Super Rugby 2016

For the first time in its history, the Super Rugby competition will include teams from outside South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, with a team from both of Argentina (Jaguares) and Japan (Sunwolves) joining the tournament, as well as another team from South Africa (Kings). The eighteen teams will be split into two groups, each comprising two conferences:

AUSTRALASIAN GROUP
Australian conference: Brumbies (based in Canberra), Force (Perth), Reds (Brisbane), Rebels (Melbourne), Waratahs (Sydney)
New Zealand conference: Blues (Auckland), Chiefs (Hamilton), Crusaders (Christchurch), Highlanders (Dunedin), Hurricanes (Wellington)

SOUTH AFRICAN GROUP
Africa 01 conference: Bulls (Pretoria), Cheetahs (Bloemfontein), Stormers (Cape Town), Sunwolves (Tokyo)
Africa 02 conference: Jaguares (Buenos Aires), Kings (Port Elizabeth), Lions (Johannesburg), Sharks (Durban)

Each team will play a total of 15 regular season matches and have two byes. The finals series will involve eight teams: the four conference winners, the next three best teams from Australasia and the next one best team from South Africa.

The Highlanders will be looking to defend their title, after they were crowned champions in 2015 following their upset victory over the Hurricanes 21-14 in the final.

The Highlanders – 2015 Super Rugby Champions

 

2015 Final Standings:

Upcoming fixtures – Round 1
Blues vs Highlanders at Eden Park, Auckland (Fri, Feb 26 at 5:35pm)
Brumbies vs Hurricanes at GIO Stadium, Canberra (Fri, Feb 26 at 7:40pm)
Cheetahs vs Jaguares at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein (Sat, Feb 27 at 4:00am)
Sunwolves vs Lions at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo (Sat, Feb 27 at 3:15pm)
Crusaders vs Chiefs at AMI Stadium, Christchurch (Sat, Feb 27 at 5:35pm)
Waratahs vs Reds at Allianz Stadium, Sydney (Sat, Feb 27 at 7:40pm)
Force vs Rebels at nib Stadium, Perth (Sat, Feb 27 at 9:50pm)
Kings vs Sharks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth (Sun, Feb 28 at 12:00am)
Stormers vs Bulls at Newlands, Cape Town (Sun, Feb 28 at 2:05am)

*All times AEDST. Times, dates and venues subject to change