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Super Rugby

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Pete Samu. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

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Super Rugby is the largest and most competitive rugby union competition in the southern hemisphere. In 2022 the competition will become known as Super Rugby Pacific and will see the inclusion of two brand new sides – Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua. These two sides replace the South African and Argentine sides from previous Super Rugby versions.

The Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, Super Rugby Australia and Super Rugby Aotearoa competitions will no longer exist and instead just the one Super Rugby Pacific competition will run in 2022.

The new competition returns to the 12-team tournament with the teams playing 14 regular season matches. The fixtures will be made up of 11 round robin matches and three derby/rivalry matches.

The Super Rugby competition was previously a 15-team competition with teams across the southern hemisphere, but COVID-related border closures saw the 2020 season cancelled and the future of Super Rugby reassessed.

In 2021, Australia and New Zealand opted to run their own competitions as they worked out moving towards a combined solution, while South Africa elected to move their clubs to European competitions. Japan’s Sunwolves, who were already destined for the scrapheap, were axed prematurely, while Argentina’s Jaguares now play in a South American competition.

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History of Super Rugby

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The competition was originally founded in 1996 as Super 12 – an expansion of the South Pacific Championship that began in 1986 – and continued with 12 teams until 2005. In 2006 the competition was expanded and renamed Super 14 with two new franchises, the Western Force (Perth) and Central Cheetahs (Free State and Northern Cape Province), entering the competition following ongoing negotiations in 2005.

In 2009, following prolonged discussion, SANZAAR announced its intentions to expand the competition to 15 teams in 2011 with the last franchise to be the Rebels, based in Melbourne. The competition was consequently rebranded Super Rugby.

» View the full 2022 Super Rugby Pacific draw

In 2016 the competition was expanded from 15 to 18 teams, welcoming a sixth South African team (the Southern Kings), along with foundation teams from Japan (the Sunwolves) and Argentina (the Jaguares). These new teams also brought a change to the Super Rugby conference structure.

However, this was changed again ahead of the 2018 season. With a confusing structure and drop in quality, the competition retracted to 15 teams, with Australia cutting the Western Force and South Africa removing the Southern Kings and Cheetahs.

Crusader and All Black Dan Carter stands as the competition’s highest point scorer (1,533); Doug Howlett the top try scorer (59); Dan Carter has kicked the most conversions (185); and Andrew Mehrtens has kicked the most penalties (202). The competition is renowned for attacking, physical rugby and is praised internationally for its flare and spectacular tries.

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