South Africa has voted to pull its four major franchises from Super Rugby and explore expanding their presence in the European PRO14 competition.
South Africa's domestic rugby season will finally kick into full gear when a seven-team competition starts on Oct. 10, ending a seven-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Africa Rugby will seek to cut spending by 1 billion rand over the next eight months in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has plans for a new domestic competition to replace Super Rugby and the PRO14 on the 2020 calendar.
SA Rugby plans could see South African franchises and other provincial teams contest a locally-based competition in view of the current suspension of Super Rugby and the Guinness PRO 14.
In the shortest lead up to a Super Rugby season ever, season 25 kicks off in January with a full round of matches played from Friday night all the way through to Sunday morning. Here are the Round 1 team lists.
Round 5 is headlined by a trans-Tasman clash between the Highlanders-Rebels, while the Reds play host to the high-flying Sharks.
Round 2 is headlined by two blockbuster derbies with Australian conference leaders the Brumbies playing host to the Rebels, while the biggest match of the round is sure to be the Chiefs hosting the Crusaders in Waikato. Here are the Round 1 team lists.
Round 6 sees Super Rugby's maiden regular season double-header taking place, with rugby fans in Wollongong treated to two matches for the price of one. Catch up with all the team news here!
Round 7 sees a second Super Rugby regular season double-header taking place, with the Sunwolves hosting the Crusaders in Brisbane before the Bulls face the Reds. Catch up with all the team news here!
Round 4 is headlined with another New Zealand derby with the Crusaders hosting the Highlanders, while the Brumbies will travel away from home to take on the Chiefs. Here are the Round 4 team lists.
Round 3 will be headlined with another blockbuster derby in New Zealand with the Crusaders and Blues set to open the round, while the Waratahs and Rebels will face off for their first win of the season. Here are the Round 3 team lists.
The 2020 Super Rugby season is upon us? What, wait, how? Yes, the Jan 31. start is earlier than ever while the competition has also been shrouded in some uncertainty elsewhere. We answer the key questions ahead of next week's kick-off here.
South Africa will have no sides in the semi-finals of Super Rugby for only the second time in 16 years, but it could be just the start of the country's declining fortunes in the competition.
After a tight season that came right down to the wire, we're finally at the pointy end of the year, with every side playing for a spot in the semifinals. Here are the playoff team lists.
It may be the final round but there's still eight teams fighting for the final four wildcard places. Who'll make the 2019 quarterfinals?
With just one round remaining, only four of the top eight spots have been finalised, while up to eight teams remain in the fight for the final four playoff spots. Here are the final round team lists.
There's plenty of mind games going on in Australia, while Liam Squire returns in New Zealand to press his All Blacks claims, and the Bulls have gone all in on Handre Pollard.
Things are heating up as we countdown to the end of the regular season with the race for playoff spots coming to a head.
Things are heating up as we countdown to the end of the regular season with the race for playoff spots coming to a head.
There are just four rounds to go in Super Rugby's regular season, with a real race unfolding for the wild card playoff spots.
There are just five rounds to go in Super Rugby's regular season, the Australian and South African conferences very much in the balance. Follow all the team news for Round 14 here.
Sunday rugby returns in Round 13 with the Brumbies hosting the Sunwolves, while Friday night sees two crucial derby matches in both Australia and New Zealand.
The Crusaders' Mitchell Hunt scored a try and added the conversion after the final hooter to snatch a 21-21 draw in their Super Rugby clash with South Africa's Sharks in Christchurch on Friday.
Aaron Mauger has the Otago-based franchise humming, while the Reds can press a strong playoff claim this weekend. In South Africa, the teams each have key players injured.
Super Rugby has a full slate of seven games in Round 12, highlighted by two trans-Tasman clashes on Saturday evening.
| United Rugby Championship | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Team | GP | PD | P |
| 1 | Leinster | 14 | +163 | 54 |
| 2 | Glasgow Warriors | 14 | +152 | 53 |
| 3 | Munster | 14 | +102 | 48 |
| 4 | Bulls | 14 | +130 | 46 |
| 5 | Benetton Treviso | 14 | +10 | 42 |
| 6 | Stormers | 14 | +58 | 40 |
| 7 | Ospreys | 14 | +32 | 40 |
| 8 | Edinburgh | 14 | +4 | 39 |
| 9 | Connacht | 14 | +30 | 39 |
| 10 | Ulster | 14 | +16 | 39 |
| 11 | Lions | 14 | +109 | 39 |
| 12 | Cardiff Blues | 14 | -5 | 25 |
| 13 | Sharks | 14 | -58 | 18 |
| 14 | Scarlets | 14 | -277 | 16 |
| 15 | Dragons | 14 | -251 | 15 |
| 16 | Zebre | 14 | -215 | 15 |
