Rugby - Super Rugby
The leading rugby union competition in the southern hemisphere below National team level involves franchises from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Japan. The competition has sen many changes of teams and structures. The current competitors are highlighted below.
From 1996 up to and including 2005 the tournament was known as Super 12 (involving 12 teams). The Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies from Australia; the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders of New Zealand; the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Cats hailing from South Africa. In 2006, the addition of the Force (Aus) and the splitting of the Cats into the Lions and the Cheetahs produced 14 teams from 2006-2010.
From 2011, the Melbourne Rebels were added to transform the competition into the Super 15. In 2016, an Argentine team (Los Jaguares), a Japan-based side (Sunwolves) and a sixth South African outfit (Southern Kings) were added.
Three conferences of five teams each (Australia/Japan, New Zealand and South Africa/Argentina) produce one side each who progress, alongside tfive wildcards with the best records across the conferences, to the knockout phase. The final is held at the home ground of the team that finished best in the regular season.
From 1996 up to and including 2005 the tournament was known as Super 12 (involving 12 teams). The Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies from Australia; the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders of New Zealand; the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Cats hailing from South Africa. In 2006, the addition of the Force (Aus) and the splitting of the Cats into the Lions and the Cheetahs produced 14 teams from 2006-2010.
From 2011, the Melbourne Rebels were added to transform the competition into the Super 15. In 2016, an Argentine team (Los Jaguares), a Japan-based side (Sunwolves) and a sixth South African outfit (Southern Kings) were added.
Three conferences of five teams each (Australia/Japan, New Zealand and South Africa/Argentina) produce one side each who progress, alongside tfive wildcards with the best records across the conferences, to the knockout phase. The final is held at the home ground of the team that finished best in the regular season.
| YEAR | VENUE | WINNERS | RUNNERS-UP |
| 1996 | Auckland | BLUES | Sharks |
| 1997 | Auckland | BLUES | Brumbies |
| 1998 | Auckland | CRUSADERS | Blues |
| 1999 | Dunedin | CRUSADERS | H'landers |
| 2000 | Canberra | CRUSADERS | Brumbies |
| 2001 | Canberra | BRUMBIES | Sharks |
| 2002 | Christchurch | CRUSADERS | Brumbies |
| 2003 | Auckland | BLUES | Crusaders |
| 2004 | Canberra | BRUMBIES | Crusaders |
| 2005 | Christchurch | CRUSADERS | Waratahs |
| 2006 | Christchurch | CRUSADERS | Hurricanes |
| 2007 | Durban | BULLS | Sharks |
| 2008 | Christchurch | CRUSADERS | Waratahs |
| 2009 | Pretoria | BULLS | Chiefs |
| 2010 | Soweto | BULLS | Stormers |
| 2011 | Brisbane | REDS | Crusaders |
| 2012 | Hamilton | CHIEFS | Sharks |
| 2013 | Hamilton | CHIEFS | Brumbies |
| 2014 | Sydney | WARATAHS | Crusaders |
| 2015 | Wellington | HIGHLANDERS | Hurricanes |
| 2016 | Wellington | HURRICANES | Lions |
| 2017 | Johannesburg | CRUSADERS | Lions |
| 2018 | Christchurch | CRUSADERS | Lions |
| Links to other Rugby |
| National Teams | Club/Provincial Tournaments |