2016 THE EVOLUTION
OF SUPER RUGBY
In 2011, the foundations were put in place for the continued growth and evolution of Super Rugby. A new team was welcomed to the competition, along with an all-new conference structure to deliver the best of local and international rivalries, pitting the stars of world rugby against each other on a weekly basis.
In 2016, this evolution continues with three new sides introduced to an expanded four-Conference, two-Group model that boosts the rivalry and passion of previous seasons, driving Super Rugby into a rousing new era.
Introducing a bold new future for Super Rugby.
The Kings from South Africa return to the fray, along with an all-new Argentinian team and one other international side, taking Super Rugby to new places, new markets and new crowds.
With a broader pool of playing talent, more venues, extra match-ups and bigger thrills, 2016 is the next exciting step in the ongoing evolution of the best international provincial rugby competition in the world.
SUPER RUGBY AN EVOLVED STRUCTURE
THE REGULAR SEASON
Each team plays a balance of home and away games (8 home, 7 away, or vice versa). Fans will get to see more games under the new structure while teams will play one fewer and have two byes across a 17-week season.
Super Rugby is set to grow to four Conferences, arranged into two Groups.
The existing 15 teams will be joined by the Kings from South Africa, a new team from Argentina and a third new side that will be determined by a “go to market” process.
The result of this expansion sees traditional rivalries continue and new ones forged, while delivering the passion and excitement of Super Rugby to more cities, countries and fans than ever before.
AUSTRALASIAN GROUP
HURRICANES
HIGHLANDERS
CRUSADERS
CHIEFS
BLUES
REBELS
REDS
WARATAHS
FORCE
BRUMBIES
NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE
AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE
TBA TEAM
SOUTH AFRICAN GROUP
ARGENTINIAN TEAM
RSA TEAMRSA TEAM
RSA TEAMRSA TEAM
RSA TEAMRSA TEAM
AFRICA 02 CONFERENCE
AFRICA 01 CONFERENCE
BULLS CHEETAHS
LIONS SHARKS
KINGS
STORMERS
South African Conference composition still to be determined with team participation subject to final approval by the SARU General Council.
05MATCHES AGAINST
ANOTHER CONFERENCE, FROM THE AUSTRALASIAN
GROUP
04MATCHES AGAINST
ANOTHER CONFERENCE, FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN
GROUP
06MATCHES WITHIN
YOUR OWN CONFERENCE
02BYES
17ROUNDS IN TOTAL
SUPER RUGBY THE FINALS SERIES
Conference standings and competition points at the end of the Regular Season will be used to determine seedings, with the top eight seeds to play off against each other in the Super Rugby Finals Series.
Seeds 1-4 are the four Conference winners (ranked in order of competition points)
Seeds 5-8 are the ‘Wildcards’ – the next best team from the South African Group and the next three best teams from the Australasian Group (again, in order of competition points)
These seedings ensure every Conference is represented in the Super Rugby Finals Series.
Home finals reward consistent performance throughout the Regular Season, while the sudden-death nature of the Finals Series makes matches meaningful for every team – and exciting for every fan.
SOUTH AFRICAN GROUP AUSTRALASIAN GROUP
01 01
02 02
04 04
05
03 03
01 01
02 02
04 04
05
03 03
TEAM TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAM TEAM
TEAMTEAM
TEAM
TEAM TEAM
AFRICA 01 CONFERENCE
AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE
AFRICA 02 CONFERENCE
SEED 01
SEED 03
SEED 02
SEED 04
CONFERENCE WINNERS
NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE
SOUT
H AF
RICA
N W
ILDCA
RD R
ANKI
NGS
AUSTRALASIAN WILDCARD RANKINGS
SEED 05
SEED 07
SEED 06
SEED 08
FINALSWILDCARDS
SUPER RUGBY THE FINALS SERIES
HIGHER SEEDED WINNER
LOWER SEEDED WINNER
VS
WINNERS ADVANCE
WINNERS ADVANCE
CHAMPION
HOM
E
SEED 01
SEED 08VS
HOM
EAW
AY
HIGHEST SEEDED WINNER
LOWEST SEEDED WINNER
VS
HOM
EAW
AY
AWAY
2ND HIGHEST SEEDED WINNER
2ND LOWEST SEEDED WINNER
VS
HOM
EAW
AY
SEED 02
SEED 07VS
HOM
EAW
AY
SEED 03
SEED 06VS
HOM
EAW
AY
SEED 04
SEED 05VS
HOM
EAW
AY
SUPER RUGBY FINAL
SEMI FINALS
QUARTER FINALS
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