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{{Short description|Rugby union club competition}}
{{about|the men's rugby union tournament in the Pacific region|the pan-American men's tournament|Super Rugby Americas|the women's tournament in Australia|Super Rugby Women's|the women's tournament in New Zealand|Super Rugby Aupiki|the man's tournament in Brazil|Brazilian Rugby Union Championship}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title           = Super Rugby
| current_season  = 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season
| logo            = Super Rugby Pacific logo.png
| logo_upright    = 0.7
| formerly        = Super 12 (1996–2005)<br />Super 14 (2006–2010)
| last_season     = 
| upcoming_season = 
| sport           = Rugby Union
| founded         = {{start date and age|1996}}
| folded          = 
| replaced        = 
| owner           = [[SANZAAR]]
| ceo             = Jack Mesley
| divisions       = 
| inaugural       = [[1996 Super 12 season|1996]]
| teams           = [[#Current franchises|11]]
| country         = [[Australia]] (4 teams)<br />[[Fiji]] (1 team)<br />[[New Zealand]] (5 teams)<br />[[List of islands in the Pacific Ocean|Pacific Islands]] (1 team)<br />'''Former:'''<br /> [[South Africa]] (8 teams)<br />[[Argentina]] (1 team)<br />[[Japan]] (1 team)<br />Australia (1 team)
| champion        = {{rut|Crusaders}}
| champ_season    = [[2025 Super Rugby Pacific season|2025]], 13th title
| most_champs     = 
| most successful club = [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]] (13 titles)
| tv              = '''Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea:''' <br /> [[Fijian Broadcasting Corporation]] <br /> [[National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea#NBC Television|National Broadcasting Corporation]] <br /> [[Sky Sport (New Zealand)|Sky Sport]] ([[Sky Open (TV channel)|Sky Open]]) <br /> [[Stan (service)#Stan Sport|Stan Sport]] ([[Nine Network]]) <br /> '''International:''' <br /> [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]] <br /> [[Digicel]] (Pacific Islands) <br /> [[ESPN]] <br /> [[FloSports]] <br /> [[Premier Sports Asia]] <br /> [[Sky Italia]] <br />  [[Sky Sports]] <br />[[SuperSport (South African broadcaster)|SuperSport]] <br /> [[The Sports Network|TSN]] <br /> [[Wowow]]
| sponsor         = SMARTECH Business Systems<ref>{{Cite web|date=2025-02-14|title=SMARTECH partners with Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Women's as naming rights sponsor|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/smartech-partners-with-super-rugby-pacific-and-super-rugby-womens-2025214|access-date=2025-03-14|website=Super Rugby|language=en-AU}}</ref> <br />[[DHL]] <br /> [[Harvey Norman]] <br /> Shop N Save Supermarket
| related_comps   = '''Women's Competitions''' <br /> [[Super Rugby Women's]] <br /> [[Super Rugby Aupiki]] <br /> '''COVID-19 Regional Competitions:''' <br /> [[Super Rugby Aotearoa]] <br /> [[Super Rugby AU]] <br /> [[Super Rugby Trans-Tasman]] <br /> [[Super Rugby Unlocked]]
| founder         = 
| website         = [https://super.rugby/superrugby/ super.rugby]
}}
'''Super Rugby''' is a men's professional [[rugby union]] club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It has previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Super Rugby started as the '''Super 12''' in the [[1996 Super 12 season|1996 season]] with 12 teams from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, building on competitions dating back to the [[South Pacific Championship]] in 1986. The Super 12 was established by [[SANZAAR|SANZAR]]<!-- it was called SANZAR on its inception --> after the sport became professional in 1995. After the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] forced the competition to split into three, the reformed competition in 2021 only included teams from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands.

The name was changed to '''Super 14''' with the addition of two teams for the [[2006 Super 14 season|2006 season]], and with expansion to 15 teams for the [[2011 Super Rugby season|2011 season]], the competition was rebranded as Super Rugby (with no number). In 2016 two new teams, the [[Jaguares (Super Rugby)|Jaguares]] from Argentina and [[Sunwolves]] from Japan, joined the competition, playing in two newly separated African groups. In 2018, the Cheetahs, Kings and Western Force were dropped, leaving 15 teams. The Sunwolves left the competition before the end of the 2020 season.

The 2020 season was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-15|title=Super Rugby 2020 season shut down: Coronavirus news, SANZAAR, Highlanders vs Jaguares cancelled, NZ travel restriction|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/super-rugby/super-rugby-sanzaar-competition-to-be-halted-for-the-foreseeable-future/news-story/9793242c08bab0fe2b232f011699e28c|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Fox Sports|language=en-AU}}</ref> Due to international travel restrictions relating to the pandemic, [[Rugby Australia]] and [[New Zealand Rugby]] held domestic tournaments, [[Super Rugby AU]] and [[Super Rugby Aotearoa]] respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Suncorp Stadium derby to open Super Rugby AU competition|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/06/10/super-rugby-au-confirmation|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.rugby.com.au|date=10 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa ready to kick off in June|url=https://superrugby.co.nz/news/investec-super-rugby-aotearoa-ready-to-kick-off-in-june/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=superrugby.co.nz|date=11 May 2020 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Both these tournaments continued in 2021, to be followed by [[Super Rugby Trans-Tasman]], a crossover tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2021 set for thrilling Trans-Tasman crossover|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/11/12/2021-set-for-thrilling-trans-tasman-crossover|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.rugby.com.au|date=12 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In September 2020, the [[South African Rugby Union]] withdrew their four franchises from the competition, with plans for them to join the [[United Rugby Championship|PRO14]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=SARU members vote to seek northern hemisphere future|url=https://www.sarugby.co.za//news-features/articles/2020/09/29/saru-members-vote-to-seek-northern-hemisphere-future/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=SA Rugby}}</ref> The Argentine [[Jaguares (Super Rugby)|Jaguares]] also left the competition.

In August 2021 a 12-team format was confirmed, with the addition of the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika, a team representing the [[Pacific Islands]]. The tournament from 2022 is named '''Super Rugby Pacific'''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Reports: Agreement reached for 12-team Super Rugby from 2022|url=https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/super-rugby-set-twelve-2022/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.sarugbymag.co.za|date=4 November 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/super-rugby-pacific-new-format-teams-structure-2021829|title=RA, NZR launch new era with formation of Super Rugby Pacific|work=Rugby.com.au|date=30 August 2021|access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref>

The competition has been dominated by New Zealand teams, who have won 21 times in 28 years. The {{Rut|Crusaders}} have won most often, with 13 titles.

==Organisation and format==
===SANZAAR===
{{Main|SANZAAR}}

[[SANZAAR]] is the body that administers Super Rugby, and has the [[Australian Rugby Union|Australian]], [[New Zealand Rugby Union|New Zealand]], [[South African Rugby Union|South African]] and [[Argentine Rugby Union|Argentine]] rugby unions as its members. SANZAAR also runs the [[The Rugby Championship|Rugby Championship]] tournament that is contested by [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]], [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]], [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]], and [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] following the conclusion of the Super Rugby tournament; the Tri-Nations preceded the Rugby Championship before Argentina joined the competition. The organisation was formed in 1996 to establish and run the Super 12, and Tri-Nations Tournament.

===Competition format===
[[File:Force Rugby Kickoff.jpg|thumb|centre|upright=3.3|[[Western Force]] (Blue) kicking off to the [[New South Wales Waratahs]] (White).]]

Prior to 2011, Super Rugby was a [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] competition where each team played every other team once; a team had six or seven home games, and six or seven away games each. The winner received four competition points; if the game was a draw two points were awarded to each team. The [[Rugby union bonus points system|bonus points system]] was also used, where any team scoring four or more tries, and/or losing by seven points or less, receives an extra competition point. In 2016, the try bonus changed. A team now has to score three more tries than their opponents. The top four teams at the end of the round-robin phase then played semi-finals – the first placed team hosting the fourth placed team, and the second placed team hosting the third placed team.<ref name="Super12History">{{cite web| url=http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,9991_1745267,00.html |title=Super 12: The History |publisher=planetrugby.com |access-date=16 April 2007 |date=24 May 2001}}</ref> The two winners then played the final at the home ground of the top surviving seed.<ref name="Super12History"/> There were 91 [[regular season]] games in total.<ref name="2007Season">{{cite web |url=http://www.super14.com/fixtures/2007fixturesLGMT.asp |publisher=super14.com |title=2007 Super 14 Fixtures |access-date=16 April 2007 |archive-date=30 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930202005/http://www.super14.com/fixtures/2007fixturesLGMT.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> Games were held over 14&nbsp;weekends with each team receiving one [[Bye (sports)|bye]].

From [[Super rugby 2011|2011]] – 2015 the format changed, with each country forming its own [[Athletic conference|conference]]. Each team within a conference played each of the other teams in its conference twice, once at home and once away. Each team then played four out of the five teams from each of the other conferences once. Competition points were awarded on a similar basis as before. The format of the finals also changed; it involved six teams: the top team in each of the three conferences plus the three next teams with the highest total number of points, regardless of conference. The four lower ranking teams were paired in two sudden death games; the winners of those two games each played one of the two top ranked teams (which received a bye at the start of the finals). Those winners played for the championship.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Sports Digital Media |url=http://www.superxv.com/format/ |title=Super XV Rugby Format &#124; Super Rugby News, Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby |via=Superxv.com |access-date=23 February 2012 |archive-date=14 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414094134/http://www.superxv.com/format/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

For the [[Super rugby 2016|2016]] and 2017 seasons the format changed again, with three more teams joining, one each from Argentina, Japan and South Africa. There were four conferences, with Africa getting two conferences. The finals had eight teams with each conference winner getting a home quarter final. They were joined by four wild card teams, three from the Australasian group and one from the South African group.

From the [[2018 Super Rugby season|2018 season]] the format changed again, with two South African teams and an Australian team being dropped. There were three conferences, one containing the five New Zealand teams, a South African one including Argentina's team and an Australian one including Japan's team.

Due to the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports#Rugby union|COVID-19 pandemic]] the competition had to undergo a change in structure and be split into regionalised tournaments. There were two national competitions, Australia's [[Super Rugby AU]] and New Zealand's [[Super Rugby Aotearoa]], and those were followed by [[Super Rugby Trans-Tasman]] in 2021, a crossover competition involving the five Australian sides playing the five New Zealand sides. Super Rugby currently only consists of Australian and New Zealand sides, with the Japanese [[Sunwolves]] departing the competition after the 2020 season, the South African sides voting to leave to join an expanded PRO14 (Later known as the [[United Rugby Championship]]), and the Argentine [[Jaguares (Super Rugby)|Jaguares]] not set to compete in any Super Rugby tournament in 2021.

From 2022, the tournament reverted to round robin format featuring 12 teams, with the [[Fijian Drua]] and [[Moana Pasifika]] joining the competition. There are no divisions from 2022 onwards, with one main log being used instead, and top 8 teams qualifying for the playoffs.

Since 2022, each Super Rugby season has featured a "Super Round", where an entire round of Super Rugby matches is played over a weekend at a single stadium; both the 2022 and 2023 Super Rounds were played at [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium|AAMI Park]] in [[Melbourne]], with the 2024 Super Round set to be played there as well.

==History==
==={{anchor|Super6}}{{anchor|Super10}}Background===
Before 1996, a number of transnational competitions involving regional and provincial rugby union teams had taken shape in the southern hemisphere. The earliest of these was the [[South Pacific Championship]], which was launched in 1986 and continued until 1990.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;margin-left:1em;font-size:90%;float:right"
|+ '''Super 6 Champions '''
! style="width:50px;"| Season
! style="width:110px;"| Champions
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 1992
| [[Queensland Reds|Queensland]]
|}

====Super 6====
After the demise of the South Pacific Championship, with no tournament played in 1991, the competition was relaunched as the Super 6 in 1992. The original Super 6 competition consisted of three provincial teams from New Zealand: [[Auckland Rugby Union|Auckland]], [[Canterbury Rugby Football Union|Canterbury]], [[Wellington Rugby Football Union|Wellington]]; along with two Australian state teams: [[Queensland Reds|Queensland]] and [[New South Wales Waratahs|New South Wales]]; and also the [[Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji national team]].

====Super 10====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;margin-left:1em;font-size:90%;float:right"
|+ '''Super 10 Champions 1993 –  1995'''
! style="width:50px;"| Season
! style="width:110px;"| Champions
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Super 10 (rugby union)|1993]]
| [[Golden Lions|Transvaal]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Super 10 (rugby union)|1994]]
| [[Queensland Reds|Queensland]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Super 10 (rugby union)|1995]]
| [[Queensland Reds|Queensland]]
|}

{{Main|Super 10 Rugby}}
In 1993, the Super Six competition was revamped and expanded into the Super 10 tournament. With [[Sporting boycott of South Africa during the apartheid era#End of apartheid|South Africa being readmitted into international sport]] following the dismantling of apartheid, there was an opportunity to launch an expanded competition which would also feature South Africa's top provincial teams. The inaugural competition featured the following teams: [[Waikato Rugby Union|Waikato]], [[Auckland Rugby Union|Auckland]], [[Otago Rugby Football Union|Otago]] and [[North Harbour Rugby Union|North Harbour]] (New Zealand); [[Sharks (rugby union)|Natal]], [[Bulls (rugby union)|Northern Transvaal]] and [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Transvaal]] (South Africa); [[Queensland Reds|Queensland]] and [[New South Wales Waratahs|New South Wales]] (Australia) and [[Samoa national rugby union team|Western Samoa]] ([[Pacific Tri-Nations]] winner). The Super 10 was won by [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Transvaal]] (South Africa) in 1993, and by [[Queensland Reds|Queensland]] (Australia) in 1994 and 1995.

==={{anchor|Super12}}SANZAR era===
====Super 12 (1995–2005)====
The official declaration of professionalism in rugby union in August 1995 led to a restructuring of the Super 10 competition. Following the success of the [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995 World Cup]], the rugby boards of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa formed SANZAR (South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) to administer an annual 12-team provincial/franchise based competition pitting regional teams from the three nations against each other. In addition it was decided to hold an annual [[Tri Nations Series|Tri-Nations Test Series]] between the three countries. A significant reason for the development of the Super 12 was the threat to [[rugby union]] from rival football code [[rugby league]]: part of the business model for the Foxtel pay TV network in Australia was to attract subscribers by offering an exclusive product (such as rugby union) which could not be seen on free-to-air broadcast television. By setting up the Super 12, the Unions had a product that was in demand from viewers, enabling them to sell a 10-year contract for exclusive television rights to News Corp for US$555&nbsp;million, giving them both coverage and financial support to kickstart the new competition.<ref name="sanzardeal">{{cite web | title=More for players in new SANZAR deal | publisher=worldcupweb.com | url=http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/item.asp?NewsID=845 | access-date=17 July 2006 | archive-date=20 March 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320101141/http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/item.asp?NewsID=845 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right"
|+ Format history
|-
! Period
! Name
! Teams
! Countries
|-
| {{nowrap|1996–2005}}
| Super 12
| 12
| rowspan=3| [[Rugby Australia|Australia]], [[New Zealand Rugby|New Zealand]], [[South African Rugby Union|South Africa]]
|-
| {{nowrap|2006–2010}}
| Super 14
| 14
|-
| {{nowrap|2011–2015}}
| rowspan=3| Super Rugby
| 15
|-
| {{nowrap|2016–2017}}
| 18
| rowspan=2| [[Argentine Rugby Union|Argentina]], [[Rugby Australia|Australia]], [[Japan Rugby Football Union|Japan]], [[New Zealand Rugby|New Zealand]], [[South African Rugby Union|South Africa]]
|-
| {{nowrap|2018–2020}}
| 15
|-
| {{nowrap|2020}}
| Super Rugby<br>([[Super Rugby AU|AU]], [[Super Rugby Aotearoa|NZ]], [[Super Rugby Unlocked|SA]])
| 17
| [[Rugby Australia|Australia]], [[New Zealand Rugby|New Zealand]], [[South African Rugby Union|South Africa]]
|-
| {{nowrap|2021}}
| Super Rugby<br>([[Super Rugby AU|AU]], [[Super Rugby Aotearoa|NZ]], [[Super Rugby Trans-Tasman|TT]])
| 10
| [[Rugby Australia|Australia]], [[New Zealand Rugby|New Zealand]]
|-
| {{nowrap|2022–2024}}
| rowspan=2| Super Rugby Pacific
| 12
| rowspan=2| [[Rugby Australia|Australia]], [[Fiji Rugby Union|Fiji]], [[New Zealand Rugby|New Zealand]], [[List of islands in the Pacific Ocean|Pacific Islands]]
|-
| {{nowrap|2025–}}
| 11
|}
With significant sponsorship, and rugby turning a professional sport in August 1995, the Super 12 competition successfully kicked off in [[1996 Super 12 season|1996]] with five New Zealand franchises, four South African provinces and three domestic Australian teams competing. New Zealand's dominance of the competition began in the first year when the [[Blues (Super Rugby)|Auckland Blues]] won the inaugural competition defeating South African side the {{Rut|Sharks}} 45–21 in a home final. The Blues would repeat the success of 1996 beating Australian side the [[Brumbies|ACT Brumbies]] 23–7 in the [[1997 Super 12 season|1997]] final.

The Blues then reached their third successive final in [[1998 Super 12 season|1998]] but went down to fellow countrymen the [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Canterbury Crusaders]] 13–20. This would mark the beginning of the Crusaders' three-year dominance as they went on to win the [[1999 Super 12 season|1999]] and [[2000 Super 12 season|2000]] finals over the [[Highlanders (rugby union)|Otago Highlanders]] and [[Brumbies|ACT Brumbies]] respectively. The [[2001 Super 12 season|2001 season]] was the first in which no New Zealand franchise reached the final, being contested between the [[Brumbies|ACT Brumbies]] and {{Rut|Sharks}} with the Brumbies convincing winners, with a 36–6 scoreline.

The Crusaders won their 4th final in [[2002 Super 12 season|2002]] winning all 11 matches and missed out on their 5th in [[2003 Super 12 season|2003]] with a four-point loss to fellow countrymen the Blues. In [[2004 Super 12 season|2004]] the Brumbies took revenge on their 2000 final loss to the Crusaders defeating them 47–38 in front of a home crowd. The Crusaders would bounce back to win the [[2005 Super 12 season|2005]] final 35–25 against the Australian side the [[New South Wales Waratahs]] who reached their first-ever final. This was the last year of the 12 team format.

From the early 2000s, Australia had started to push for the inclusion of a fourth Australian team, and South Africa for another team from its country. There was also speculation of including a team from the South Pacific Island nations, such as Fiji; or a combined [[Pacific Islanders rugby union team|Pacific Islanders]] team from Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.{{cn|date=January 2025}} Argentina was also pushing for inclusion in the Super 12.{{cn|date=January 2025}} In the early 2000s, the provincial names from the New Zealand franchises were dropped, so, for example, the Canterbury Crusaders became The Crusaders. Also South Africa followed the New Zealand franchise model, where previously South African participation was decided by the previous year's Currie Cup placings.

====Super 14 (2006–2010)====
SANZAR announced in December 2004 that a new five-year television deal had been signed that would cover 2006 to 2010, with [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] winning the rights for the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and [[SuperSport (South African TV channel)|SuperSport]] winning rights for South Africa. The contract was worth US$323&nbsp;million over five years, a 16% annual increase compared to the previous deal.<ref name="sanzardeal"/> It covers international fixtures as well as the Super 14. SANZAR remained free to negotiate separate deals for other markets, such as France, Japan and the Americas.

Under the new deal, Australia and South Africa each got one extra team in the competition, and a third round of fixtures was added to the Tri Nations Series. The new Australian team in the competition was based in [[Perth]] and was named the [[Western Force]].

The addition of the new South African team led to considerable controversy, including government involvement. Finally, the five teams for 2006 were confirmed to be the country's existing four teams plus the [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]], which draws its players from the [[Free State Province|Free State]] and [[Northern Cape Province]]s. For the 2007 season, the [[Southern Spears]], based in [[Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape|Port Elizabeth]], were originally intended to replace the lowest-finishing South African team from the 2006 competition. However, the existing South African Super 14 franchises opposed the plan, which was pushed through by controversial president of the [[South African Rugby Union]], Brian van Rooyen. After van Rooyen was ousted as president, SARU announced that the Spears would not enter the competition.<ref name="Spears kom straks met regsaksie">{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2006/04/20/KS/23/spt-spears23.html | title=Spears kom straks met regsaksie | work=Die Burger | date=20 April 2006 | access-date=18 October 2015 | language=af | archive-date=5 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105133916/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2006/04/20/KS/23/spt-spears23.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> SARU investigated the viability of the Spears after discovering serious financial irregularities.<ref name="Spears se baas wil vir oulaas pleit">{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2006/03/27/DB/2/spears27.html | title=Spears se baas wil vir oulaas pleit | work=Die Burger | date=27 March 2006 | access-date=18 October 2015 | language=af | archive-date=5 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105133916/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2006/03/27/DB/2/spears27.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> A [[High Court of South Africa]] ruling stated that the Spears had a valid contract to compete in the Super 14 and Currie Cup. However, because of the organisation's financial and administrative troubles, in November 2006 a settlement was reached. The Spears abandoned their legal case, and will continue to exist, but not compete in the Super 14.<ref>{{cite news | work=Planet Rugby | title=Spears abandon their Super conquest | url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Teams/South_Africa/story_55239.shtml | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912014430/http://www.planet-rugby.com/Teams/South_Africa/story_55239.shtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=12 September 2012 | date=16 November 2006 | access-date=22 November 2006 }}</ref>

SANZAR rejected a proposal to split the Super 14 into two seven-team divisions, and decided to keep the competition in its traditional single-table format. Argentina and the Pacific Islands remained shut out of the competition.

The two new teams did not perform all that well, the South African franchise the Cheetahs did the better of the two teams finishing 10th on the ladder notching up 5 season wins. The Australian franchise the Western Force only managed one victory and ended winning the wooden spoon as last placed 14th. The highlight for the Force was a 23-all draw against eventual champions the Crusaders, who defeated first-time finalists the [[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]] 19–12.

[[File:Skrum.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Cats (now the Lions) playing the Sharks.]]

During the 2007 season, 22 [[All Blacks]] missed the competition's first seven rounds as part of an All Black "conditioning programme" that was a part of the All Blacks' [[2007 Rugby World Cup]] preparations, and every New Zealand franchise was without players for the first seven rounds.<ref name="2007Conditioning">{{cite news|title=All Blacks pulled out of the Super 14 |url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3562_1692051,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929120504/http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3562_1692051,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 September 2007 |publisher=planet-rugby.com |date=20 August 2006 |access-date=24 January 2007 }}</ref><ref name="ConditioningSquad">{{cite news |title=Henry reveals his 'World Cup team' |url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3562_1692085,00.html |publisher=planet-rugby.com |date=11 September 2006 |access-date=24 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228193636/http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0%2C18259%2C3562_1692085%2C00.html |archive-date=28 February 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="ConditioningSquad2">{{cite news| last=Leggat| first=David|title=Getting the balance in Super 14|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10402597 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=22 September 2006 |access-date=24 September 2006}}</ref>
At the end of the regular season, for the first time since 1998, no Australian franchise had made the semi-finals. Although the Brumbies were strong and the Western Force experienced vast improvement, it was a poor season for the [[Queensland Reds]] and [[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]] who finished last and second last respectively. Also, the competition featured the first all-South African final as the [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]] and [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]], who finished 1–2 on the season ladder, both won their respective semi-finals. The final, held [[Kings Park Stadium|in Durban]], saw the visiting Bulls win 20–19.

During the time the competition was branded as the Super 14, only two teams won the tournament. The Crusaders winning the 2006 and 2008 tournaments; while the Bulls ended victorious in 2007, 2009, and 2010 respectively.

====Super Rugby: 15 teams (2011–2015)====
SANZAR unveiled in 2009 its model for an expanded season that would begin in 2011.  This model was based around the original ARU proposal for three national conferences: each side were to have played the other four teams from their own country twice and the other ten teams once each; the season has to end with a six-team finals series.

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:SupeRugby Logo.svg|thumb|upright=0.8|right|The Super Rugby logo used from 2011 to 2021.]] -->

There were four major compromises, however, designed to accommodate certain wishes of each country, that somewhat complicated the model: 
* Each team would only play four, instead of all five, teams in each of the other two national conferences, making sixteen regular season games for each team instead of eighteen, and allowing for a late February start, somewhat placating the ARU and NZRU who wanted a March start.
* There would be a three-week gap for the June test (international) matches favoured by the SARU.
* The season would finish in early August so as not to overlap new streamlined versions of New Zealand's and South Africa's domestic competitions.
* The three conference winners and the three best performers of the remaining teams would qualify for a three-week finals series, with seedings deciding the match-ups. This system is a hybrid of the conference-based qualification system favoured by the SARU and the 'top six' model favoured by the ARU and NZRU.

SANZAR announced in 2009 the addition of a fifth Australian team that would play in the expanded "Super Rugby" competition in 2011. The licence was awarded to [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia, and the team's name announced as the [[Melbourne Rebels]]. The Australian start-up franchise was given the nod ahead of South Africa's [[Southern Kings]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Walton |first=Darren |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26339154-5002381,00.html |title=Melbourne granted Super licence &#124; Super Rugby |work=Fox Sports |date=12 November 2009 |access-date=23 February 2012}}</ref>  Brian Waldron, former CEO of the [[National Rugby League|NRL]] club the [[Melbourne Storm]], was confirmed as the new CEO of the Rebels on 11 January 2010, but resigned on 23 April after a [[Melbourne Storm salary cap breach|salary cap breach]] was uncovered at the Storm.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/rebels-act-swiftly-in-asking-waldron-to-clear-his-desk-20100422-tg62.html | title=Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal|last=Rakic |first=Josh |date=23 April 2010 | work =The Sydney Morning Herald   |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>

===SANZAAR era===
====Expansion: 18 teams (2016–2017)====
In February 2012, SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters announced that the organisation was considering adding franchises in Argentina, Japan and the United States in 2016, the first year of SANZAR's next television contract. This was also the year that [[rugby sevens]] [[Rugby union at the Summer Olympics|entered the Olympics]], which contributed towards increased interest in the sport in many countries, including Japan and the US.<ref name=Pandaram>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby-gold/super-rugby-going-global/story-fn8ti7yn-1226268126917 |title=Super Rugby going global |first=Jamie |last=Pandaram |work=Sydney Daily Telegraph |date=11 February 2012 |access-date=19 February 2011}}</ref>

Australian sports broadcasting analyst Colin Smith noted that the addition of Japanese and American teams could result in a TV deal worth more than [[Australian dollar|A$]]1&nbsp;billion beyond 2020. Specifically, he stated, "You could have a deal comparable to the other major sports in Australia. Rugby is [[Rugby union in the United States|a college (university) sport in the US]], if soccer can create [[Major League Soccer|its own league]] there and sell teams for $40&nbsp;million, imagine what you could do in 10–12 years with rugby in that market."<ref name=Pandaram/> By comparison, the largest TV deal in Australian sport, that of the [[Australian Football League]] ([[Australian rules football|Australian rules]]), is worth A$1.26&nbsp;billion from 2012 to 2016. Even that figure was dwarfed by the [[NFL on television|TV contracts]] of the [[National Football League|NFL]], for which contracts at the time were worth more than US$4&nbsp;billion annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/sanzar-news/absolute-possibilities-for-sanzar-expansion-says-peters/ |title="Absolute Possibilities" for SANZAR Expansion Says Peters |first=James |last=Mortimer |publisher=SANZAR |date=11 February 2012 |access-date=19 February 2012}}</ref>

Peters added that the conference-based structure was ideal for expanding the competition to new territories, either by adding new conferences or by adding teams to the current conferences. He also discussed the possibility that offshore Super Rugby teams could be a home for surplus players from the SANZAR countries, keeping them in the SANZAR fold and away from European clubs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/latest-edition/6443422/Time-may-be-right-for-Sanzar-to-expand-Super-Rugby |title=Time may be right for Sanzar to expand Super Rugby |first=Duncan |last=Johnstone |work=The Sunday Star-Times |date=19 February 2012 |access-date=19 February 2012}}</ref>

Prior to Super Rugby's broadcast contracts expiring after the 2015 season, SANZAR considered several alternatives for the competition's future organisation:
<ref name="SANZAR considering splitting Super Rugby in 2016">{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/sanzar-considering-splitting-super-rugby-in-2016-20130726-2qpu8.html | title=SANZAR considering splitting Super Rugby in 2016 | work=Sydney Morning Herald | date=27 July 2013 | access-date=26 August 2013 | last=Robinson | first=Georgina}}</ref>
* Retention of the conference system that was in place for 2011–15.
* Expansion of the structure to include teams from Asia, the United States and/or Canada.<ref name="Super Rugby to consider expansion">{{cite news | url=http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2013/rugby/story/195973.html | title=Super Rugby to consider expansion | work=ESPN Scrum | date=27 August 2013 | access-date=27 August 2013}}</ref>
* A split of the competition, with South Africa forming one competition with the likely addition of at least one Argentine side, and Australia and New Zealand forming another, with the possibility of including Asian teams.

The last proposal, made by the [[South African Rugby Union|SARU]], was reportedly driven by internal union politics. With only five guaranteed places in Super Rugby but six active franchises, the bottom team in the South African Conference faced a promotion/relegation playoff with the sixth franchise for a place in the next season's competition. [[Australian Rugby Union|Australia]] and [[New Zealand Rugby Union|New Zealand]] warmed to the SARU proposal, as a trans-Tasman competition would potentially allow for more regional derbies, fewer time zone complications and less player travel.<ref name="SANZAR considering splitting Super Rugby in 2016"/> However, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew indicated that a competition that did not include South African teams was a commercial non-starter because of large broadcast revenues from that country and because the NZRU considered Super Rugby matches in South Africa to be critical for national team development.<ref name="Super Rugby to consider expansion"/>

SANZAR announced on 4 September 2013 that South Africa would be granted a sixth franchise starting in the 2016 season, negating the need for relegation play-offs involving the sixth South African franchise.<ref name="SANZAR boss Greg Peters confirms South Africa will get a sixth Super Rugby franchise from 2016">{{cite news | url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/sanzar-boss-greg-peters-confirms-south-africa-will-be-granted-a-sixth-super-rugby-franchise-from-2016/story-fni2u98u-1226710357974 | title=SANZAR boss Greg Peters confirms South Africa will get a sixth Super Rugby franchise from 2016 | work=Herald Sun | date=4 September 2013 | access-date=26 August 2013 | last=Adno | first=Carly}}</ref> SANZAR then announced on 20 November 2014 that Japan and Argentina would each be allocated a team from the [[2016 Super Rugby season|2016 season]] onwards.<ref name="Japan and Argentina officially join Super Rugby">{{cite web | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/japan-and-argentina-officially-join-super-rugby/ | title=Japan and Argentina officially join Super Rugby | publisher=SANZAR | date=20 November 2014 | access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref>

In 2017, the Australian Rugby Union was rebranded to [[Rugby Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-27|title=Australian Rugby kicks off new era as Rugby Australia|url=http://www.redsrugby.com.au/News/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/18054/Australian-Rugby-kicks-off-new-era-as-Rugby-Australia.aspx|access-date=2020-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027043949/http://www.redsrugby.com.au/News/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/18054/Australian-Rugby-kicks-off-new-era-as-Rugby-Australia.aspx|archive-date=27 October 2017}}</ref>

====Contraction: 15 teams (2018–2020)====
In April 2017, SANZAAR confirmed the competition would be reduced to 15 teams in [[2018 Super Rugby season|2018]] with two South African and one Australian team to have their franchises withdrawn.<ref>[http://wwos.nine.com.au/2017/04/10/10/51/aru-to-axe-force-or-rebels-in-2-3-days Australian Rugby Union to axe Western Force or Melbourne within three days] ''[[Nine's Wide World of Sports]]'' 10 April 2017</ref> Subsequently, four South African teams took part: the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers, with the Cheetahs and Kings losing their spots. The Cheetahs and Kings joined the Pro 12, which became the [[Pro14]] from the 2017–2018 season onwards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40631172|title=Pro14 rugby: Who are the Cheetahs and Southern Kings?|date=2017-08-02|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2017-08-23|language=en-GB}}</ref> On 11 August 2017, Australia announced that the Western Force had lost their licence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aru.com.au/MediaReleases/Article/tabid/1699/ArticleID/18199/ARU-TO-DISCONTINUE-WESTERN-FORCE-SUPER-RUGBY-LICENCE.aspx|title=ARU TO DISCONTINUE WESTERN FORCE SUPER RUGBY LICENCE|last=Union|first=Australian Rugby|website=www.aru.com.au|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-23}}</ref> On 21 March 2019, SANZAAR confirmed that 2020 will be the Sunwolves' last season of competition in Super Rugby.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sunwolves set for Super Rugby exit, SANZAAR statement on Friday|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/03/20/super-sunwolves-exit|access-date=2020-06-18|website=www.rugby.com.au|date=20 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

====COVID-19: Regionalisation, South African departure (2020–2021)====
{{multiple image
| image1 = Super Rugby Aotearoa logo.png
| width1 = 100
| image2 = Super Rugby AU logo 2021.png
| width2 = 100
| image3 = Super Rugby Trans-Tasman logos.png
| width3 = 200
| image4 = Super Rugby Unlocked logo.png
| width4 = 100
| footer = The logos for Super Rugby Aotearoa, Super Rugby AU, Super Rugby Trans-Tasman and Super Rugby Unlocked
}}The global [[COVID-19 pandemic]] caused the 2020 Super Rugby competition to be cut short. As health concerns eased, other professional sports returned to play. The Super Rugby season was unable to be resumed, however, due to border restrictions and the need for teams to be placed into [[quarantine]] upon arrival in each country. This resulted in [[New Zealand Rugby]] and [[Rugby Australia]] forming their own Super Rugby tournaments starting in June and July respectively, so that their teams could compete domestically.<ref name="nzh-may-2020" /><ref name="fs-june-2020" /> [[South African Rugby Union|South African Rugby]] subsequently launched its own domestic Super Rugby competition which started play in October 2020.<ref name="citizen-sep-2020" />

The three competitions formed were:
* [[Super Rugby Aotearoa]] (5 teams, New Zealand){{hsp}}<ref name=nzh-may-2020>{{Cite news|date=2020-05-07|title=Covid 19 coronavirus: New Zealand Rugby confirm details for 'Super Rugby Aotearoa' at alert level 2|language=en-NZ|work=[[New Zealand Herald]] |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12330317|access-date=2020-06-10|issn=1170-0777}}</ref>
* [[Super Rugby AU]] (5 teams, Australia){{hsp}}<ref name=fs-june-2020>{{cite news |title=Revealed: Every match of the Super Rugby AU season |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/super-rugby/super-rugby-au-2020-rugby-australia-fixtures-schedule-dates/news-story/c81c762190d43ac7bf3aa7f211a54a09 |work=Fox Sports |date=11 July 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201102115909/https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/super-rugby/super-rugby-au-2020-rugby-australia-fixtures-schedule-dates/news-story/c81c762190d43ac7bf3aa7f211a54a09 |archive-date=2 November 2020}}</ref>
* [[Super Rugby Unlocked]] (7 teams, South Africa){{hsp}}<ref name=citizen-sep-2020>{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Rudolph |title=Fixtures released as local teams gear up for Super Rugby Unlocked |url=https://citizen.co.za/sport/south-african-sport/sa-rugby-sport/2363824/fixtures-released-as-local-teams-gear-up-for-super-rugby-unlocked/ |work=The Citizen |date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005083441/https://citizen.co.za/sport/south-african-sport/sa-rugby-sport/2363824/fixtures-released-as-local-teams-gear-up-for-super-rugby-unlocked/ |archive-date=5 October 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Super Rugby AU Final 2021.png|thumb|Super Rugby AU final between Queensland Reds and Brumbies in 2021.]]
Super Rugby Aotearoa featured all five New Zealand teams from Super Rugby: the Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes.<ref name=nzh-may-2020/> Super Rugby AU included Australia's four teams, the Reds, Waratahs, Brumbies and Rebels, as well as former Super Rugby side, the [[Western Force]].<ref name=fs-june-2020/> The Force had continued as a franchise after their 2017 post-season exclusion from Super Rugby and were playing in [[Global Rapid Rugby]], also suspended due to COVID-19. The Australian and New Zealand competitions each scheduled a 20-game home and away season in 2020 but Super Rugby AU played two additional knockout matches to decide the Australian title.<ref name=fs-june-2020/>

Super Rugby Unlocked featured South Africa's four Super Rugby teams (the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers) plus former franchise the {{rut|Cheetahs}} as well as the [[Currie Cup]] sides {{Rut|Griquas}} and {{Rut|Pumas}}. These seven teams competed in a single [[round-robin tournament|round-robin]] domestic format in 2020.<ref name=citizen-sep-2020/>

In September 2020, SA Rugby announced the withdrawal from Super Rugby of all of their teams, with plans for the four sides to join an expanded [[Pro14|Pro14/United Rugby Championship]] competition.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sarugby.co.za/news-features/articles/2020/09/29/saru-members-vote-to-seek-northern-hemisphere-future/|title=SARU members vote to seek northern hemisphere future|work=SA Rugby|date=29 September 2020|access-date=11 November 2020}}</ref> [[Super Rugby Aotearoa]] and [[Super Rugby AU]] continued in 2021,<ref name="SR Aotearoa 2021">{{cite news|url=https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/sky-super-rugby-aotearoa-draw-announced/|title=Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa draw announced|publisher=Super Rugby NZ|date=10 November 2020|access-date=10 November 2020|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116115022/https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/sky-super-rugby-aotearoa-draw-announced/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="SR AU 2021">{{cite news|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/11/10/2021-australia-super-rugby-draw-revealed-with-new-zealand-crossover-set-to-follow|title=Revealed: Rugby Australia announce 2021 Super Rugby AU draw|work=Rugby.com.au|date=11 November 2020|access-date=11 November 2020}}</ref> [[Super Rugby Trans-Tasman]] would also take place in 2021, a crossover competition featuring the Australian sides playing the New Zealand sides.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/11/12/2021-set-for-thrilling-trans-tasman-crossover|title=2021 set for thrilling Trans-Tasman crossover|work=Rugby.com.au|date=13 November 2020|access-date=13 November 2020}}</ref>

====Super Rugby Pacific: Pacific Islands expansion (2022–present)====
In the longer term, a new 12-team tournament from 2022 onwards had been mooted, with the current five Australian and five New Zealand sides to be joined by [[Moana Pasifika]], and a Fijian side.<ref name=":0" /> New Zealand Rugby has confirmed that it intends to partner with Fiji Rugby and Moana Pasifika, along with Australia going forward.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Zealand Rugby confirms Fiji Rugby & Moana Pasifika as preferred partners|url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/new-zealand-rugby-confirms-fiji-rugby-and-moana-pasifika-as-preferred-partners/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=allblacks.com|date=13 November 2020|language=en-NZ|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127134347/https://www.allblacks.com/news/new-zealand-rugby-confirms-fiji-rugby-and-moana-pasifika-as-preferred-partners/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2021, it was announced that licences had been offered to the [[Fijian Drua]] and [[Moana Pasifika]] ahead of joining Super Rugby in 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/next-steps-in-pacific-island-professional-teams-journey-confirmed-by-nz-rugby/|title=Next steps in Pacific Island professional teams journey confirmed by NZ Rugby|work=All Blacks|date=14 April 2021|access-date=14 April 2021}}</ref> The new format was confirmed in August 2021, with the tournament branded as Super Rugby Pacific, with the competition returning to a round robin format, although the divisions will be replaced by one main log instead.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/super-rugby-pacific-format-confirmed/|title=Super Rugby Pacific format confirmed|work=Super Rugby NZ|date=30 August 2021|access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref>

In 2024, the Melbourne Rebels, following a period of financial difficulties and being placed into administration, were shut down by Rugby Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Danckert |first=Sarah |date= 30 May 2024|title=Collapse of Rebels sparks legal battle, puts MCG World Cup final in doubt |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/melbourne-rebels-players-called-to-emergency-meeting-at-aami-park-20240530-p5jhul.html |access-date= |website=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> The Rebels board challenged the decision to cut the team and took Rugby Australia to court over the decision.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title='No trust and confidence': Rebels launch $30m lawsuit against Rugby Australia |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/no-trust-and-confidence-rebels-launch-30m-lawsuit-against-rugby-australia/news-story/ffde0b832ad73fe96658f47f3ef25757 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}</ref> The Rebels did not take part in the 2025 Super Rugby season.

In 2025, talks of expansion were mentioned in the Australian<ref>{{cite news |last=Worthington |first=Sam |date=8 May 2025 |title=Wallabies star 'stunned' as Super Rugby eyes USA expansion to trump NRL push |url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/rugby/rugby-news-2025-usa-expansion-tim-horan-exclusive-analysis-2031-world-cup-20250508-p5lxkr.html |url-status=live |work=[[Nine.com.au]] |publisher=[[Nine Entertainment]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250508075533/https://www.nine.com.au/sport/rugby/rugby-news-2025-usa-expansion-tim-horan-exclusive-analysis-2031-world-cup-20250508-p5lxkr.html |archive-date=8 May 2025 |access-date=10 May 2025 }}</ref> and New Zealand<ref>{{cite web |title=Why a Super Rugby expansion plan should be shelved – Liam Napier |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/why-a-super-rugby-expansion-plan-should-be-shelved-liam-napier/3HWH4YULD5AGNBZD5J6KVWG6VY/ |last=Napier |first=Liam |date=14 March 2025 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |publisher=[[New Zealand Media and Entertainment]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405132344/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/why-a-super-rugby-expansion-plan-should-be-shelved-liam-napier/3HWH4YULD5AGNBZD5J6KVWG6VY/ |archive-date=5 April 2025 |access-date=10 May 2025 }}</ref> [[News media|news-media]] after [[World Rugby]] Chairman [[Brett Robinson (rugby union)|Brett Robinson]] met officials in the [[United States]] about the possibility of including an American team in the competition.<ref name=roar-robinson>{{cite news |last=Doran |first=Christy |date=6 May 2025 |title=Exclusive: Super Rugby considering USA expansion as World Rugby gets edgy over looming World Cup |url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/05/05/exclusive-super-rugby-considering-usa-expansion-as-world-rugby-gets-edgy-over-looming-world-cup/ |url-status=live |work=[[The Roar (website)|The Roar]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250509234512/https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/05/05/exclusive-super-rugby-considering-usa-expansion-as-world-rugby-gets-edgy-over-looming-world-cup/ |archive-date=9 May 2025 |access-date=10 May 2025 }}</ref> Australian sports news website, ''[[The Roar (website)|The Roar]]'', wrote: "At the heart of [[World Rugby]]'s interest in the expansion is to ensure the [[United States national rugby union team|United States]] has a competitive national side by the time the [[2031 Men's Rugby World Cup|2031 Rugby World Cup]] moves to the Americas for the first time. It comes after the USA Eagles missed qualification for the first time in [[2023 Rugby World Cup|2023]] – five years after [[Major League Rugby]] started in 2018."<ref name=roar-robinson/>

==Current franchises==
{{Main|Super Rugby franchise areas}}

{{Super Rugby map}}

There are eleven franchises currently in Super Rugby; four from Australia, one from Fiji, five from New Zealand, and one representing the Pacific Islands. Each franchise is representing a franchise area, with each franchise in New Zealand representing a collection of unions, compared to the Australian model of one franchise per union. This model differs from the traditional club-based model of other Australian sports; with 4 Super Rugby teams in Australia compared to the 16 Australian-based [[National Rugby League]] teams and the 18 teams of the [[Australian Football League]]. The Pacific Islands franchise, Moana Pasifika, played mainly in New Zealand during the 2022 season.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
!style=background:white scope="col"|Club
!style=background:white scope="col"|City
!style=background:white scope="col"|Stadium
!style=background:white scope="col"|Capacity
!style=background:white scope="col"|First season
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}} '''[[Blues (Super Rugby)|Blues]]'''
|[[Auckland]], [[Auckland Region]]
|[[Eden Park]]
|align=center|50,000
|align=center|{{dts|1996}} (Super 12)
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} '''[[ACT Brumbies|Brumbies]]'''
|[[Canberra]], Australian Capital Territory
|[[Canberra Stadium|GIO Stadium]]
|align=center| 25,011
|align=center|{{dts|1996}} (Super 12)
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}} '''[[Chiefs (Super Rugby)|Chiefs]]'''
|[[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]], [[Waikato]]
|[[Waikato Stadium|FMG Stadium Waikato]]
|align=center|25,800
|align=center|{{dts|1996}} (Super 12)
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}} '''[[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]'''
|[[Christchurch]], [[Canterbury Region|Canterbury]]
|[[Rugby League Park|Apollo Projects Stadium]] <br/> [[Te Kaha (stadium)|One NZ Stadium]]
|align=center|17,104 <br/> 30,000
|align=center|{{dts|1996}} (Super 12)
|-
|{{flagicon|FJI}} '''[[Fijian Drua|Drua]]'''
|[[Suva]], Fiji
|[[Churchill Park, Lautoka|Churchill Park]]
|align=center|10,000
|align=center|{{dts|2022}}
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} '''[[Western Force|Force]]'''
|[[Perth]], Western Australia
|[[Perth Oval|HBF Park]]
|align=center| 20,500
|align=center|{{dts|2006}} (Super 14)
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}} '''[[Highlanders (rugby union)|Highlanders]]'''
|[[Dunedin]], [[Otago]]
|[[Forsyth Barr Stadium]]
|align=center|30,748
|align=center|{{dts|1996}} (Super 12)
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}} '''[[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]]'''
|[[Wellington]], [[Wellington Region]]
|[[Wellington Regional Stadium|Sky Stadium]]
|align=center|34,500
|align=center|{{dts|1996}} (Super 12)
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}} '''[[Moana Pasifika]]'''{{efn-ua | group=franchises | name="Moana Pasifika" | Moana Pasifika are a team created to represent the [[List of islands in the Pacific Ocean|Pacific Islands]]. However, they are owned and run by [[New Zealand Rugby]] and will be based in [[Auckland Region|Auckland]] for the foreseeable future, and are therefore listed with the New Zealand flag.}}
|[[North Shore, New Zealand|North Shore]], [[Auckland Region]]
|[[North Harbour Stadium]]
|align=center|14,000
|align=center|{{dts|2022}}
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} '''[[Queensland Reds|Reds]]'''
|[[Brisbane]], Queensland
|[[Lang Park|Suncorp Stadium]]
|align=center| 52,500
|align=center|{{dts|1996}} (Super 12)
|-
|{{flagicon|AUS}} '''[[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]'''
|[[Sydney]], New South Wales
|[[Sydney Football Stadium (2022)|Allianz Stadium]]
|align=center| 42,500
|align=center|{{dts|1996}} (Super 12)
|}

* '''Notes:'''
{{notelist-ua|group="standings"|refs=}}

== Former franchises ==
{{plainlist|
* '''Argentina:'''
* {{flagdeco|ARG}} [[Jaguares (Super Rugby)|Jaguares]] – [[Buenos Aires]], [[Buenos Aires Province]] (not named in a Super Rugby competition for 2021)
* '''Australia:'''
* {{flagdeco|AUS}} [[Melbourne Rebels]] – [[Melbourne]], Victoria (withdrawn by Rugby Australia in 2024)
* '''Japan:'''
* {{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Sunwolves]] – [[Minato, Tokyo|Minato]], [[Tokyo Prefecture]] (withdrawn by the [[Japan Rugby Football Union]] in 2020){{efn|Also played in [[Mong Kok]], [[Kowloon]], Hong Kong and [[Kallang]], [[Central Region, Singapore]].}}
* '''South Africa:'''
* {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]] – [[Pretoria]], [[Gauteng]] (withdrawn by the [[South African Rugby Union]] in 2020){{efn|Competed as '''Northern Transvaal''' between 1996 and 1997.}}
* {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]] – [[Bloemfontein]], [[Free State (province)|Free State]] (withdrawn by Super Rugby and moved to [[United Rugby Championship|Pro14]] in 2017, participated in [[Super Rugby Unlocked]] in 2020){{efn|Competed as '''Free State''' in 1997.}}
* {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Griquas (rugby union)|Griquas]] – [[Kimberley, Northern Cape]] (participated in [[Super Rugby Unlocked]] in 2020)
* {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]] – [[Johannesburg]], [[Gauteng]] (withdrawn by the South African Rugby Union in 2012, returned to Super Rugby in 2014; withdrawn by the South African Rugby Union in 2020){{efn|Competed as '''Transvaal''' in 1996, as the '''Gauteng Lions''' in 1997 and as the '''Cats''' between 1998 and 2006.}}
* {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Pumas (Currie Cup)|Pumas]] – [[Mbombela]], [[Mpumalanga]] (participated in [[Super Rugby Unlocked]] in 2020)
* {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]] – [[Durban]], [[KwaZulu-Natal]] (withdrawn by the South African Rugby Union in 2020){{efn|Competed as the '''Natal Sharks''' in 1996.}}
* {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Southern Kings]] – [[Port Elizabeth|Gqeberha]], [[Eastern Cape]] (withdrawn by Super Rugby and moved to [[United Rugby Championship|Pro14]] in 2017)
* {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Stormers]] – [[Cape Town]], [[Western Cape]] (withdrawn by the South African Rugby Union in 2020){{efn|Competed as '''Western Province''' in 1996.}}
}}

==Champions==
{{Main|List of Super Rugby champions}}

{| class="sortable plainrowheaders wikitable"
|+Super Rugby grand finals
|-
!scope=col|Season
!scope=col|Teams
!scope=col|Champion
!scope=col|Score
!scope=col|Runner-up
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[1996 Super 12 season|1996]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Blues (Super Rugby)|Auckland Blues]]
|align=center|[[1996 Super 12 season#Final|45–21]]
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Sharks (rugby union)|Natal Sharks]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[1997 Super 12 season|1997]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Blues (Super Rugby)|Auckland Blues]]
|align=center|[[1997 Super 12 season#Grand final|23–7]]
|{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[ACT Brumbies]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[1998 Super 12 season|1998]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Canterbury Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[1998 Super 12 season#Grand final|20–13]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Blues (Super Rugby)|Auckland Blues]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[1999 Super 12 season|1999]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Canterbury Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[1999 Super 12 season#Grand final|24–19]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Highlanders (rugby union)|Otago Highlanders]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2000 Super 12 season|2000]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2000 Super 12 season#Grand final|20–19]]
|{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[ACT Brumbies|Brumbies]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2001 Super 12 season|2001]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[ACT Brumbies|Brumbies]]
|align=center|[[2001 Super 12 season#Grand final|36–6]]
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2002 Super 12 season|2002]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2002 Super 12 season#Grand final|31–13]]
|{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[ACT Brumbies|Brumbies]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2003 Super 12 season|2003]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Blues (Super Rugby)|Blues]]
|align=center|[[2003 Super 12 season#Grand final|21–17]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2004 Super 12 season|2004]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[ACT Brumbies|Brumbies]]
|align=center|[[2004 Super 12 season#Grand final|47–38]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2005 Super 12 season|2005]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2005 Super 12 season#Grand final|35–25]]
|{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2006 Super 14 season|2006]]
|align=center|14
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2006 Super 14 final|19–12]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2007 Super 14 season|2007]]
|align=center|14
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]
|align=center|[[2007 Super 14 final|20–19]]
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2008 Super 14 season|2008]]
|align=center|14
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2008 Super 14 final|20–12]]
|{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2009 Super 14 season|2009]]
|align=center|14
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]
|align=center|[[2009 Super 14 final|61–17]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Chiefs (Super Rugby)|Chiefs]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2010 Super 14 season|2010]]
|align=center|14
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]
|align=center|[[2010 Super 14 final|25–17]]
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Stormers]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2011 Super Rugby season|2011]]
|align=center|15
|{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[Queensland Reds|Reds]]
|align=center|[[2011 Super Rugby final|18–13]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2012 Super Rugby season|2012]]
|align=center|15
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Chiefs (Super Rugby)|Chiefs]]
|align=center|[[2012 Super Rugby final|37–6]]
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2013 Super Rugby season|2013]]
|align=center|15
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Chiefs (Super Rugby)|Chiefs]]
|align=center|[[2013 Super Rugby final|27–22]]
|{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[ACT Brumbies|Brumbies]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2014 Super Rugby season|2014]]
|align=center|15
|{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]
|align=center|[[2014 Super Rugby final|33–32]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2015 Super Rugby season|2015]]
|align=center|15
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Highlanders (rugby union)|Highlanders]]
|align=center|[[2015 Super Rugby final|21–14]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2016 Super Rugby season|2016]]
|align=center|18
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]]
|align=center|[[2016 Super Rugby final|20–3]]
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2017 Super Rugby season|2017]]
|align=center|18
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2017 Super Rugby final|25–17]]
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2018 Super Rugby season|2018]]
|align=center|15
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2018 Super Rugby final|37–18]]
|{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2019 Super Rugby season|2019]]
|align=center|15
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2019 Super Rugby final|19–3]]
|{{flagdeco|ARG}} [[Jaguares (Super Rugby)|Jaguares]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2020 Super Rugby season|2020]]
|align=center|15 (17)
|colspan=3 rowspan=2 align=center|''Seasons cancelled ([[#COVID-19: Separate competitions and South African departure (2020–2021)|§ regional competitions]])''
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2021 Super Rugby season|2021]]
|align=center| 10
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2022 Super Rugby Pacific season|2022]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2022 Super Rugby Pacific final|21–7]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Blues (Super Rugby)|Blues]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2023 Super Rugby Pacific season|2023]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2023 Super Rugby Pacific final|25–20]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Chiefs (Super Rugby)|Chiefs]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2024 Super Rugby Pacific season|2024]]
|align=center|12
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Blues (Super Rugby)|Blues]]
|align=center|[[2024 Super Rugby Pacific final|41–10]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Chiefs (Super Rugby)|Chiefs]]
|-
! style=text-align:center|[[2025 Super Rugby Pacific season|2025]]
|align=center|11
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|align=center|[[2025 Super Rugby Pacific final|16–12]]
|{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Chiefs (Super Rugby)|Chiefs]]
|}

==Performances==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Performances in the Super Rugby by team
|-
! scope="col" | Team
! scope="col" | Title(s)
! scope="col" | Runners-up
! scope="col" | Seasons won
! scope="col" | Seasons runner-up
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 13
| style="text-align:center;" | 4
| [[1998 Super 12 season|1998]], [[1999 Super 12 season|1999]], [[2000 Super 12 season|2000]], [[2002 Super 12 season|2002]], [[2005 Super 12 season|2005]], [[2006 Super 14 season|2006]], [[2008 Super 14 season|2008]], [[2017 Super Rugby season|2017]], [[2018 Super Rugby season|2018]], [[2019 Super Rugby season|2019]], [[2022 Super Rugby Pacific season|2022]], [[2023 Super Rugby Pacific season|2023]], [[2025 Super Rugby Pacific season|2025]]
| [[2003 Super 12 season|2003]], [[2004 Super 12 season|2004]], [[2011 Super Rugby season|2011]], [[2014 Super Rugby season|2014]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Blues (Super Rugby)|Blues]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 4
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
| [[1996 Super 12 season|1996]], [[1997 Super 12 season|1997]], [[2003 Super 12 season|2003]], [[2024 Super Rugby Pacific season|2024]]
| [[1998 Super 12 season|1998]], [[2022 Super Rugby Pacific season|2022]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 3
| style="text-align:center;" | 0
| [[2007 Super 14 season|2007]], [[2009 Super 14 season|2009]], [[2010 Super 14 season|2010]]
| style="text-align:center;" | —
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|AUS}} [[ACT Brumbies|Brumbies]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
| style="text-align:center;" | 4
| [[2001 Super 12 season|2001]], [[2004 Super 12 season|2004]]
| [[1997 Super 12 season|1997]], [[2000 Super 12 season|2000]], [[2002 Super 12 season|2002]], [[2013 Super Rugby season|2013]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Chiefs (Super Rugby)|Chiefs]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
| style="text-align:center;" | 4
| [[2012 Super Rugby season|2012]], [[2013 Super Rugby season|2013]]
| [[2009 Super 14 season|2009]], [[2023 Super Rugby Pacific season|2023]], [[2024 Super Rugby Pacific season|2024]], [[2025 Super Rugby Pacific season|2025]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|AUS}} [[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
| [[2014 Super Rugby season|2014]]
| [[2005 Super 12 season|2005]], [[2008 Super 14 season|2008]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
| [[2016 Super Rugby season|2016]]
| [[2006 Super 14 season|2006]], [[2015 Super Rugby season|2015]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Highlanders (rugby union)|Highlanders]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
| [[2015 Super Rugby season|2015]]
| [[1999 Super 12 season|1999]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|AUS}} [[Queensland Reds|Reds]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
| style="text-align:center;" | 0
| [[2011 Super Rugby season|2011]]
| style="text-align:center;" | —
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 0
| style="text-align:center;" | 4
| style="text-align:center;" | —
| [[1996 Super 12 season|1996]], [[2001 Super 12 season|2001]], [[2007 Super 14 season|2007]], [[2012 Super Rugby season|2012]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 0
| style="text-align:center;" | 3
| style="text-align:center;" | —
| [[2016 Super Rugby season|2016]], [[2017 Super Rugby season|2017]], [[2018 Super Rugby season|2018]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Stormers]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 0
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
| style="text-align:center;" | —
| [[2010 Super 14 season|2010]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|ARG}} [[Jaguares (Super Rugby)|Jaguares]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 0
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
| style="text-align:center;" | —
| [[2019 Super Rugby season|2019]]
|}

===By nation===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Performances in finals by nation
|-
! scope="col" | Nation
! width="90"  | Titles
! width="90"  | Runners-up
! width="90"  | Total
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{flagdeco|NZL}} [[New Zealand Rugby|New Zealand]]
| 21
| 13
| 34
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{flagdeco|AUS}} [[Rugby Australia|Australia]]
| 4
| 6
| 10
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{flagdeco|RSA}} [[South African Rugby Union|South Africa]]
| 3
| 8
| 11
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{flagdeco|ARG}} [[Argentine Rugby Union|Argentina]]
| 0
| 1
| 1
|}

===Conference winners===
Between 2011 and 2019, teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have played in 3 separate conferences. With teams playing each team in their own conference twice (home and away) and in the other conferences playing four of the five teams. The winner of each conference is awarded a home final and their region specific conference trophy. In 2016, the South Africa conference was split in two, with Japan's Sunwolves and Argentina's Jaguares added to South Africa 1 and 2, respectively. In 2018, the South African conferences re-integrated, with Argentina's Jaguares remaining in the South Africa conference, and Japan's Sunwolves joining the Australia conference.

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Conference
![[2011 Super Rugby season|2011]]
![[2012 Super Rugby season|2012]]
![[2013 Super Rugby season|2013]]
![[2014 Super Rugby season|2014]]
![[2015 Super Rugby season|2015]]
![[2016 Super Rugby season|2016]]
![[2017 Super Rugby season|2017]]
![[2018 Super Rugby season|2018]]
![[2019 Super Rugby season|2019]]
|-
!Australia
|colspan="2"|[[Queensland Reds|Reds]]
|[[ACT Brumbies|Brumbies]]
|colspan="2"|[[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]
|colspan="2"|[[ACT Brumbies|Brumbies]]
|[[New South Wales Waratahs|Waratahs]]
|[[ACT Brumbies|Brumbies]]
|-
!New Zealand
||[[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|colspan="2"|[[Chiefs (Super Rugby)|Chiefs]]
|[[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|colspan="2"|[[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]]
|colspan="3"|[[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]]
|-
!South Africa 1
|rowspan="2" colspan="2"|[[Stormers]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Stormers]]
|colspan="2"|[[Stormers]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Jaguares (Super Rugby)|Jaguares]]
|-
!South Africa 2
|colspan="2"|[[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]
|}

===Regional competition winners===
Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], regionalised tournaments were played for the remainder of the [[2020 Super Rugby season]] and the [[2021 Super Rugby season]]. Those competitions were: [[Super Rugby AU]] (Australia), [[Super Rugby Aotearoa]] (New Zealand), [[Super Rugby Unlocked]] (South Africa) and [[Super Rugby Trans-Tasman]] (Australia and New Zealand).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Super Rugby AU !! Super Rugby Aotearoa !! Super Rugby Unlocked !! Super Rugby Trans-Tasman
|-
! 2020
| {{Rut|Brumbies}} || {{Rut|Crusaders}} || {{Rut|Bulls}} || {{N/a}}
|-
! 2021
| {{Rut|Reds}} || {{Rut|Crusaders}} || {{N/a}} || {{Rut|Blues}}  
|}

==Salary cap==
===Australia===
The five Australian teams playing in the competition are subjected to a A$5.5 million salary cap for a squad of up to 40 players per Australian team.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Newman |first1=Beth |title=2018 a year of flux before salary cap kicks in |url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/01/10/super-rugby-salary-cap-transition |website=rugby.com.au |date=10 January 2018 |access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Australia's Super Rugby players get pay rise |url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/australias-super-rugby-players-get-pay-rise-20180110 |website=Sport 24 |access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Intili |first1=Daniela |title=Australian rugby announces improved pay deal, women's sevens among the winners |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-10/australian-rugby-announces-improved-pay-deal/9317738 |website=ABC News |date=10 January 2018 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref> The [[Australian Rugby Union]] decided in 2011 to introduce the salary cap because of financial pressures.<ref>Brisbane Times, Big paycuts on cards as ARU seeks salary cap, 12 March 2011, http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/big-paycuts-on-cards-as-aru-seeks-salary-cap-20110312-1bs2k.html</ref> Originally starting in 2012 as a cap of A$4.1 million, it was later raised to A$4.5 million for the 2013 and 2014 seasons to take pressure off the teams' ability to recruit and retain players.<ref>Sydney Morning Herald, Tip of the cap nudges Pocock, 3 June 2012, http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/tip-of-the-cap-nudges-pocock-20120602-1zok6.html</ref> The salary cap is a key component of the negotiation between the ARU and the Rugby Union Players Association over the collective bargaining agreement.<ref>Fox Sports, Uncertainty over Super Rugby salary cap could yet derail Will Genia's deal with Queensland Reds, 2 May 2012, http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/super-rugby/uncertainty-over-super-rugby-salary-cap-could-yet-derail-will-genias-deal-with-queensland-reds/story-e6frf4qu-1226344316320#.Ub5lnBy0iXI</ref> The fact that the Australian teams in Super Rugby face a salary cap has been attributed as a factor that makes it more difficult for Australian teams to win the title.<ref>Australian Times, Salary cap makes Super Rugby harder in Australia, 15 February 2012, {{cite web|url=http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/super-rugby/salary-cap-makes-super-rugby-harder-in-australia.htm |title=Salary cap makes Super Rugby harder in Australia |access-date=2015-01-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903211249/http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/super-rugby/salary-cap-makes-super-rugby-harder-in-australia.htm |archive-date=3 September 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref>

The cap regulations have some small concessions:<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/australian-super-15-clubs-will-soon-enter-into-new-salary-cap-era/story-e6frey4i-1226030366024 |title=Australian Super 15 clubs will soon enter into new salary cap era |first=Iain |last=Payten |work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]] |date=30 March 2011 |access-date=18 July 2013}}</ref>
* Five players on each team may be paid A$30,000 each per season by team sponsors; this amount is not included in the team cap.
* The maximum cap charge for a non-Australian player is A$137,000, regardless of his actual wages.

Compared to other Australian 'rival' sporting leagues, such as the NRL and AFL, the salary cap is considerably lower. Two times lower than the AFL and only makes up 55% of the NRL salary cap. However the Australian Super Rugby salary cap stands greater than the [[A-League Men|A-League]], the [[Big Bash League|BBL]] and the [[National Basketball League (Australia)|NBL]].{{cn|date=December 2024}}

==Brand and image==
===Trophies===
{{Main|Super Rugby Trophy}}

There have been several iterations of the trophy awarded to the winner of the Super Rugby competitions.

The Super 14 trophy, unveiled in New Zealand ahead of the 2006 season, was made of sterling silver with the competition logo on a globe sitting atop of a four-sided twisted spiral.<ref name="Super14Trophy">{{cite web |url=https://www.jenshansen.com/blogs/blog-news-press/10657441-rugby-trophy-commissions |title=Media Release |publisher=jenshansen.com |date=8 February 2006 |access-date=28 January 2007 |archive-date=25 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125014741/http://www.jenshansen.com/news/super14.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Jens Hansen Gold and Silversmith in [[Nelson, New Zealand]] hand-made the trophy which took over two months to complete.<ref name="Super14Trophy"/>

On 30 June 2011, [[SANZAAR|SANZAR]] unveiled the new trophy that will be presented to the winners of the Super Rugby final from 2011 and beyond,<ref name = Sport24>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/SANZAR-unveils-new-S15-trophy-20110630 |title=Sport 24 |publisher=Sport 24 |access-date=23 February 2012}}</ref> was crafted from solid stainless steel and polished to a mirror finish. It has a height of 65&nbsp;cm and a mass of 18 kilograms.<ref name = Sport24/>
The trophy was designed by Blue Sky Design of Sydney. The trophy was manufactured by Box and Dice Pty Ltd also based in Sydney.<ref name = Sport24/>

SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said "The shape of the trophy is centred around three curved legs, each representing the Conferences involved in the Super Rugby competition . . . The champions trophy is the 'big one', and will become the ultimate symbol of Super Rugby supremacy in the years to come."<ref name = Sport24/>

The colour on each leg corresponds to the Conferences with gold for Australia, black for New Zealand, and green for South Africa.<ref name = Sport24/>

There are several other trophies contested during the competition; the Charles Anderson VC Memorial Cup between the Brumbies and Stormers, the Bob Templeton Cup between the Reds and Waratahs, the Ganbattle Trophy between Sunwolves and Rebels and the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy between the Blues and Highlanders.
Every year the [[Super Rugby player of the year]] is awarded.

===Logo===
During the last season of the Super 12, Coast Design of Sydney was commissioned to design a new logo for the Super 14.<ref name="CoastDesign">{{cite web| url=http://www.coastdesign.com.au/pages/s14.htm
|title=Super 14 |access-date=28 January 2007 |publisher=coastdesign.com.au |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061208173314/http://www.coastdesign.com.au/pages/s14.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 8 December 2006}}</ref> The Super 14 logo broke away from the traditional shield formats, common to many sporting codes, and used Roman numerals (XIV), which is unique for sport in the region.<ref name="LogoLaunch">{{cite news| url=http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2005/08/22/1124562783752.html |title=SANZAR launches Super 14 logo |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=22 August 2005 |access-date=18 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321102252/http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2005/08/22/1124562783752.html |archive-date=21 March 2007}}</ref> The game's dynamism and speed are suggested by the orbiting football which has three distinct stitches, a subtle reference to the three countries of the tournament.<ref name="LogoLaunch"/>

The Super Rugby logo dispenses with numbers, featuring a large blue "S" with a white rugby ball in the centre and "S{{smallcaps|upe}}R{{smallcaps|ugb}}Y" below the "S". The three stitches of the previous ball are retained.

Before the expansion to the Super 14, the Super 12 used a logo in the shape of a shield, which had the sponsors name at the top, and then the words "Rugby" and "Super 12". The lower half of the logo used three different coloured stripes, green, black and gold, the respective colours of the national teams of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://itip.com.au/s12-1999/index.html |title=1999 Super 12 |publisher=itip.com.au |access-date=23 February 2012 |archive-date=6 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606090239/http://itip.com.au/s12-1999/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Naming rights===
The [[naming rights]] for the competition are different in the five countries:
* In New Zealand, [[Investec Bank]] has naming rights starting with the 2011 season, and the competition is referred to as '''Investec Super Rugby'''. During the Super 14 era, [[sporting goods]] retailer [[Rebel (company)|Rebel Sport]] had naming rights and the Super 14 competition was referred to as the '''Rebel Sport Super 14'''. Previously the naming rights holders were [[U-Bix]] and then [[Spark New Zealand|Telecom New Zealand (TNZ)]]. Telecom used its ISP brand Xtra as the label in their last year of holding naming rights.
* In Australia, telecommunications company [[Vodafone Hutchison Australia|Vodafone]] has been the title sponsor of Super Rugby since 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/02/13/00/10/super-rugby-vodafone |title=Vodafone return as naming rights partner of Super Rugby |access-date=21 February 2014}}</ref> As a result, the competition is officially referred to as '''Vodafone Super Rugby'''. Prior to this, Super Rugby in Australia was sponsored by [[Suncorp Group]] through their life insurance brand [[Asteron Life]]. Vodafone were also the title sponsor of the competition during the Super 12 era. In the first season of Super Rugby, Australia had no naming rights partner. Previous to that, Investec acquired naming rights in the middle of the Super 14 era from [[Lion Nathan]], who had named the competition the ''Tooheys New Super 14'', after its [[Tooheys New]] beer brand. 
*In South Africa, telecommunications carrier [[Vodacom]] has naming rights, and the expanded competition is referred to as '''Vodacom Super Rugby'''. Before 1999, when cigarette advertising was banned in South Africa, the competition was sponsored by [[Winfield (cigarette)|Winfield]].
*In Argentina, telecommunications carrier [[Telecom Argentina|Personal]] has naming rights, and the expanded competition is referred to as '''Personal Super Rugby'''.
*In Japan, real estate developer [[Mitsubishi Estate]] acquired naming rights in 2018, the competition referred to as '''Mitsubishi Estate Super Rugby'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mec.co.jp/e/news/pdf/mec180222_superrugby.pdf|title=Mitsubishi Estate scores a try to become the Sponsor of 2018 Super Rugby Title Sponsor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224113616/http://www.mec.co.jp/e/news/pdf/mec180222_superrugby.pdf|archive-date=24 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The competition had no title sponsor in Japan during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

==Competition records==
{{Main|List of Super Rugby records}}

===Team records===

====Single match====
* '''Highest score:''' 96 points – Crusaders defeated Waratahs 96–19, 2002
* '''Highest combined score:''' 137 points – Chiefs defeated Lions 72–65, 2010
* '''Lowest combined score:''' 6 points – Highlanders defeated Crusaders 6–0, 2009
* '''Highest winning margin:''' 89 points – Bulls defeated Reds 92–3, 2007
* '''Most tries in a match by both teams:''' 18 by Lions and Chiefs, 2010
* '''Most tries in a match by one team:''' 14 by Crusaders (v Waratahs), 2002; 14 by Cheetahs (v Sunwolves), 2016; 14 by Lions (v Sunwolves), 2017

====Season====
* '''Most points:''' 596 – Hurricanes, 2017
* '''Most points conceded:''' 684 – Southern Kings, 2016
* '''Fewest points:''' 82 – Brumbies, 2021; Force, 2021
* '''Fewest points conceded:''' 79 – Blues, 2021
* '''Best points difference:''' 324 – Hurricanes, 2017
* '''Worst points difference:''' −402 – Southern Kings, 2016
* '''Most points:''' 66 – Reds, 2011; Stormers, 2012; Chiefs, 2013; Hurricanes, 2015
* '''Fewest points:''' 0 – Bulls, 2002; Rebels, 2021; Waratahs, 2021
* '''Most wins:''' 14 – Stormers, 2012; Hurricanes, 2015; Crusaders, 2017; Lions, 2017
* '''Most defeats:''' 13 – Lions, 2010; Rebels, 2011; Highlanders, 2013; Force, 2016; Southern Kings, 2016; Sunwolves, 2016; Rebels, 2017; Moana Pasifika, 2023
* '''Most tries:''' 89 – Hurricanes, 2017
* '''Fewest tries:''' 11 – Force, 2021

===Player records===

====Career====
* '''Most Caps:''' 202 – [[Wyatt Crockett]], Crusaders
* '''Points:''' 1,708 – [[Dan Carter]], Crusaders
* '''Tries:''' 66 – [[Sevu Reece]], Crusaders
* '''Conversions:''' 329 – [[Beauden Barrett]], Hurricanes & Blues
* '''Penalties:''' 307 – [[Dan Carter]], Crusaders
* '''Drop goals:''' 26 – [[Morné Steyn]], Bulls

====Season====
* '''Points:''' 263 – [[Morné Steyn]], Bulls, 2010
* '''Tries:''' 16 – [[Joe Roff]], Brumbies, 1997; [[Ben Lam (rugby)|Ben Lam]], Hurricanes, 2018
* '''Conversions:''' 57 – [[Richie Mo'unga]], Crusaders, 2023
* '''Penalties:''' 58 – [[Christian Leali'ifano]], Brumbies, 2013

====Match====
* '''Points:''' 50 – [[Gavin Lawless]], Sharks, 1997
* '''Tries:''' 5 – [[Sean Wainui]], Chiefs, 2021; [[Macca Springer]], Crusaders, 2025
* '''Conversions:''' 13 – [[Andrew Mehrtens]], Crusaders, 2002
* '''Penalties:''' 9 – [[Elton Jantjies]], Lions, 2012

==Domestic competitions==
Each respective country competing in Super Rugby has a number of their own domestic leagues, which feed into Super Rugby teams.

In '''New Zealand''', the [[National Provincial Championship (2006–present)|National Provincial Championship]] is the most prominent domestic competition below the Super Rugby, in which all the respective Unions are also aligned with Super Rugby sides.

In '''Australia''', there have been several domestic competitions, the most successful iteration so far being the [[National Rugby Championship]] (NRC), which was launched in 2014 and ran for five seasons before being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several teams that played in the former [[Australian Rugby Championship]] in 2007,<ref name="mazdacup">{{cite web | title=Mazda Australian Rugby Championship | url=http://www.rugby.com.au/fixtures_results/australian_rugby_championship/overview,50381.html | publisher=Australian Rugby Union | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603204109/http://www.rugby.com.au/fixtures_results/australian_rugby_championship/overview,50381.html | archive-date=3 June 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> were revived for the NRC. In 2025, the concept was revived with the launch of a new domestic competition, [[Super Rugby AUS]], which runs alongside the U19s and U16s competitions.

'''Argentina''', until 2018, like South Africa and New Zealand, had a national championship where several provincial unions competed, the [[Campeonato Argentino]]. Another national championship, but for clubs, is [[Nacional de Clubes]].

'''Japan's''' main domestic competition was the [[Japan Rugby League One]] (formerly Top League), featuring 16 clubs, while the second division, the [[Top Challenge League]], featured 8 clubs.

'''Fiji's''' domestic competition is the [[Skipper Cup]], featuring the countries top 12 provincial sides.

==Media==
Until 2020, in Australia, pay TV station [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]] showed every match live and beginning in 2016, free-to-air station [[Network Ten]] started showing a full match replay every Sunday morning of the 'Match of the Round' featuring at least one Australian team. Network Ten also showed full match replays of all finals matches featuring Australian teams. From 2021 onwards, [[Nine Network]] possesses the broadcasting rights, and any future Super Rugby seasons will have games aired live on streaming service [[Stan (streaming service)|Stan]], with the potential for a number of games to be simulcast live on either Nine's flagship free-to-air channel or a multichannel, similar to the current situation with [[Super Rugby AU]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Sam|date=2020-11-09|title=Nine, Rugby Australia confirm groundbreaking $100m broadcast deal|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/nine-rugby-australia-confirm-groundbreaking-100m-broadcast-deal-20201109-p56csm.html|access-date=2020-12-02|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref>

Super Rugby is broadcast on [[Supersport (TV channel)|Supersport]] in South Africa and is [[simulcast]] terrestrially on [[M-Net]]. [[SKY Sport (New Zealand)|Sky Sport]] is the official broadcaster in New Zealand. Super Rugby was broadcast in over 40 countries – in the UK on [[Sky Sports]]; in Spain it is broadcast by [[Digital+]], and in the United States by [[ESPN+]], which has confirmed all matches will be broadcast live or on demand. In Canada, [[The Sports Network|TSN]] broadcasts all matches only on TSN GO, their online [[Standard-definition television|SD]] streaming platform. Following the 2020 season though, broadcasting deals with European broadcasters ended, and no new deal had been arranged for the start of the 2021 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300218763/sanzaar-reveals-streaming-interest-in-lucrative-overseas-broadcast-rights|title=Sanzaar reveals streaming interest in lucrative overseas broadcast rights|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=1 February 2021|access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/sanzaar-without-uk-broadcaster-naming-rights-sponsor-ahead-of-super-rugby-au-20210218-p573q4.html|title=SANZAAR without UK broadcaster, naming rights sponsor before Super Rugby AU|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 February 2021|access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref>

On 24 February 2021, RugbyPass announced streaming rights for the [[Super Rugby Aotearoa]] competition, to be streamed in all territories in the UK & Ireland, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, totalling 100 territories.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/rugbypass-to-live-stream-super-rugby-aotearoa-in-uk-ireland-europe-asia-and-me/|title=RugbyPass to live stream Super Rugby Aotearoa in UK, Ireland, Europe, Asia and ME|work=RugbyPass|date=24 February 2021|access-date=24 February 2021}}</ref>

On 6 March 2021, [[World Rugby]] announced streaming for the [[Super Rugby AU]] competition, to be streamed in all territories in the UK & Ireland, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, totalling over 100 territories.<ref>{{cite tweet | number=1368121776174215169 | user=WorldRugby | author=World Rugby | author-link=World Rugby | title=🚨 Register now to watch @SuperRugby AU matches live and free on https://t.co/pMUxQrECrg 🇦🇺 🌎 Available in more than 100 countries. Geo-restrictions apply. | date=6 March 2021 | access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref>

On 19 March 2021, further broadcasters were announced for both competitions, with [[ESPN]] and [[ESPN International]] being announced as covering North and South America, [[Digicel]] covering the Pacific Islands and Papua New Guinea, {{lang|es|[[Telefónica]]|italic=no}} covering Spain and [[Wowow]] covering Japan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/sky-super-rugby-aotearoa-to-screen-in-usa-and-canada/|title=Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa to screen in USA and Canada|work=Super Rugby NZ|date=19 March 2021|access-date=19 March 2021}}</ref>

On 13 May 2021, further broadcasters were announced for [[Super Rugby Trans-Tasman]], with [[RugbyPass]] picking up streaming services in European territories again for the tournament. [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]] was announced as covering France, [[ESPN (Latin America)|ESPN Argentina]] covering the United States, [[Premier Sports]] covering Southeast Asia, [[Sky Italia]] covering Italy and [[The Sports Network|TSN]] covering Canada.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/where-in-the-world-can-you-watch-sky-super-rugby-trans-tasman/|title=Where in the world can you watch Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman?|work=Super Rugby NZ|date=13 May 2021|access-date=13 May 2021}}</ref>

On 14 February 2022, [[SANZAAR]] announced the launch of Sanzaarrugby.tv, a global streaming service for the Super Rugby competition to territories that don't have right holder broadcasters in place.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/super-rugby-pacific-goes-global-with-sanzaarrugbytv/|title=Super Rugby Pacific goes global with sanzarrugby.tv|work=SANZAAR|date=14 February 2022|access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref>

The current broadcasters ahead of the [[2022 Super Rugby Pacific season]] are:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://super.rugby/superrugby/match-centre/broadcast-guide/|title=Broadcast guide|work=SANZAAR|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

===Broadcasters===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Broadcaster
!Country(ies)
|-
|[[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]]
|{{flag|France}}<br />{{flag|French Guiana|local}}<br />{{flag|Guadeloupe|local}}<br />{{flag|Luxembourg}}<br />{{flag|Martinique}}<br />{{flag|Mayotte|local}}<br />{{flag|Monaco}}<br />{{flag|Réunion|local}}<br />{{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Romandy]]
|-
|[[Digicel]]
||{{flag|American Samoa}}<br />{{flag|Cook Islands}}<br />{{flag|French Polynesia}}<br />{{flag|Guam}}<br />{{flag|Kiribati}}<br />{{flag|Marshall Islands}}<br />{{flag|Micronesia}}<br />{{flag|Nauru}}<br />{{flag|New Caledonia}}<br />{{flag|Niue}}<br />{{flag|Northern Mariana Islands}}<br />{{flag|Palau}}<br />{{flag|Samoa}}<br />{{flag|Solomon Islands}}<br />{{flag|Tokelau}}<br />{{flag|Tonga}}<br />{{flag|Tuvalu}}<br />{{flag|Vanuatu}}<br />{{flag|Wallis and Futuna}} 
|-
|[[ESPN (Latin America)|ESPN Latin America]]
|{{flag|Argentina}}<br />{{flag|Belize}}<br />{{flag|Bolivia}}<br />{{flag|Brazil}}<br />{{flag|Chile}}<br />{{flag|Colombia}}<br />{{flag|Costa Rica}}<br />{{flag|Cuba}}<br />{{Flag|Dominican Republic}}<br />{{flag|Ecuador}}<br />{{flag|El Salvador}}<br />{{flag|Guatemala}}<br />{{flag|Haiti}}<br />{{flag|Honduras}}<br />{{flag|Mexico}}<br />{{flag|Nicaragua}}<br />{{flag|Panama}}<br />{{flag|Paraguay}}<br />{{flag|Peru}}<br />{{flag|Puerto Rico}}<br/>{{flag|Suriname}}<br />{{flag|Uruguay}}<br />{{flag|Venezuela}}
|-
|[[Fijian Broadcasting Corporation]]
|{{flag|Fiji}}
|-
|[[FloSports]]
|{{flag|United States}}
|-
|[[National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea#NBC Television|National Broadcasting Corporation]]
|{{flag|Papua New Guinea}} 
|-
|[[Nine Network]] <br /> [[Stan (streaming service)|Stan Sport]]
|{{flag|Australia}} 
|-
|[[Premier Sports Asia]]
|{{flag|Bangladesh}}<br />{{flag|Bhutan}}<br />{{flag|Brunei}}<br />{{flag|Cambodia}}<br />{{flag|Hong Kong}}<br />{{flag|India}}<br /> {{flag|Indonesia}}<br />{{flag|Kiribati}}<br />{{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}<br />{{flag|Laos}}<br />{{flag|Macau}}<br />{{flag|Malaysia}}<br />{{flag|Maldives}}<br />{{flag|Mongolia}}<br />{{flag|Myanmar}}<br />{{flag|Nepal}}<br />{{flag|Pakistan}}<br />{{flag|Palau}}<br />{{flag|Philippines}}<br />{{flag|Singapore}}<br />{{flag|South Korea}}<br />{{flag|Taiwan}}<br />{{flag|Thailand}}<br />{{flag|Vietnam}}
|-
|[[Sky Open (TV channel)|Prime]]  <br /> [[Sky Sport (New Zealand)|Sky Sport]]
|{{flag|New Zealand}}
|-
|[[Sky Italia]]
|{{flag|Italy}}<br />{{flag|Malta}}<br />{{flag|San Marino}}<br />{{flag|Ticino}}<br />{{flag|Vatican City}}
|-
|[[Sky Sports]]<ref>{{cite news |author=Shepard, Kit |agency= |title=Summer tours to stay on Sky Sports in new southern hemisphere TV deal |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/summer-tours-to-stay-on-sky-sports-in-new-southern-hemisphere-tv-deal-139590 |quote= |newspaper=Rugby World|date=2022-03-16 |access-date=2024-07-18 }}</ref>
|{{flag|Republic of Ireland}}<br />{{flag|United Kingdom}}
|-
|[[SuperSport (South African broadcaster)|SuperSport]]
|{{flag|Angola}}<br />{{flag|Benin}}<br />{{flag|Botswana}}<br />{{flag|Burkina Faso}}<br />{{flag|Burundi}}<br />{{flag|Cameroon}}<br />{{flag|Cape Verde}}<br />{{flag|Central African Republic}}<br />{{flag|Chad}}<br />{{flag|Comoros}}<br />{{flag|Democratic Republic of Congo}}<br />{{flag|Djibouti}}<br />{{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}<br />{{flag|Eritrea}}<br />{{flag|Eswatini}}<br />{{flag|Ethiopia}}<br />{{flag|Gabon}}<br />{{flag|Gambia}}<br />{{flag|Ghana}}<br />{{flag|Guinea}}<br />{{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}<br />{{flag|Ivory Coast}}<br />{{flag|Kenya}}<br />{{flag|Lesotho}}<br />{{flag|Liberia}}<br />{{flag|Madagascar}}<br />{{flag|Malawi}}<br />{{flag|Mali}}<br />{{flag|Mauritania}}<br />{{flag|Mauritius}}<br />{{flag|Mozambique}}<br />{{flag|Namibia}}<br />{{flag|Niger}}<br />{{flag|Nigeria}}<br />{{flag|Republic of the Congo}}<br />{{flag|Rwanda}}<br />{{flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}}<br />{{flag|Senegal}}<br />{{flag|Seychelles}}<br />{{flag|Sierra Leone}}<br />{{flag|Somalia}}<br />{{flag|South Africa}}<br />{{flag|South Sudan}}<br />{{flag|Sudan}}<br />{{flag|Tanzania}}<br />{{flag|Togo}}<br />{{flag|Uganda}}<br />{{flag|Zambia}}<br />{{flag|Zimbabwe}}
|-
|[[The Sports Network|TSN]]
|{{flag|Canada}}
|-
|[[Wowow]]
|{{flag|Japan}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Sports}}
* [[List of Super Rugby champions]]
* [[List of Super Rugby stadiums]]
* [[SANZAAR]]
* [[Super Rugby Aotearoa]]
* [[Super Rugby AU]]
* [[Super Rugby Trans-Tasman]]
* [[Super Rugby Unlocked]]
* [[Super W]]
* [[Super Rugby Aupiki]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book | last = Gifford | first = Phil | year = 2004 | title = The Passion – The Stories Behind 125 years of Canterbury Rugby | publisher = Wilson Scott Publishing | isbn = 0-9582535-1-X }}
* {{cite book | last = Howitt | first = Bob | year = 2005 | title = SANZAR Saga – Ten Years of Super 12 and Tri-Nations Rugby | publisher = Harper Collins Publishers | isbn = 1-86950-566-2}}
* {{Cite book |last=McIlraith|first= Matt |year=2005 |title=Ten Years of Super 12 |publisher=Hodder Moa |isbn=1-86971-025-8 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Rugby union in South Africa}}
{{Southern Hemisphere Provincial Rugby Competitions}}
{{Sports leagues of Australia}}
{{Super Rugby}}
{{Super Rugby stadiums}}
{{Super Rugby referees}}
{{Super Rugby player lists}}
{{Top-level rugby union club competitions}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Super Rugby]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Australia]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Japan]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Argentina]]
[[Category:SANZAAR rugby union competitions]]
[[Category:Rugby union competitions for provincial teams]]
[[Category:Fox Sports (Australian TV network)]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1996]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in South Africa]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1996]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in Australia]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in South Africa]]
[[Category:Multi-national rugby union leagues]]
[[Category:Multi-national sports leagues]]