Super 12
Super 12 is a Rugby Union championship competed for by teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.The first Super 12 series was held in 1996, although it has its origins in the Super 10, Super 6 and South Pacific championships. It was born out of the success of 1995 Rugby Union World Cup, pitting regional teams of the then three strongest rugby nations against each other.
One significant reason for the development of the Super 12 competition was the introduction, in Australia especially but also in other nations, of pay (or subscription) television (often known in the USA as 'cable' or 'satellite' TV). A key 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.
The Super 12 is a round-robin competition with each team playing every other team with games held each weekend. A team receives four points for a win, two for a draw, and none for a loss. Teams also receive a bonus point for scoring four tries, regardless of the final result. A bonus point is also earned by a team that loses a game by seven points (a converted try) or less. The top four teams at the end of the round-robin phase then play semifinals, with the first placed team hosting the fourth placed team and the second placed team hosting the third placed team. The two winners then play the final at the home ground of the highest surviving seed.
In recent years (2001 onwards), Australia has pushed unsuccessfully for the inclusion of a fourth Australian team; and South Africa for another team from its country. There has also been discussion of including a team from the South Pacific Island nations, such as Fiji; or a combined Pacific Islanders team from Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. Argentina is also pushing for inclusion in the Super 12. At the moment, however, the competition remains as it began.
Current competing teams are:
- Australia
- ACT Brumbies
- New South Wales Waratahs
- Queensland Reds
- New Zealand
- Blues (representing the North Island from Auckland northward)
- Chiefs (representing the central North Island)
- Crusaders (representing the northern two-thirds of the South Island, including Christchurch)
- Highlanders (representing the southern third of the South Island, including Dunedin)
- Hurricanes (representing the southern North Island, including Wellington)
- South Africa
- Bulls (representing northern Gauteng and points north)
- Cats (representing southern Gauteng, Free State, and nearby areas)
- Sharks (representing KwaZulu-Natal and adjacent areas in Eastern Cape)
- Stormers (representing Western Cape, Northern Cape, and most of Eastern Cape)
Winners
- 1996 Blues
- 1997 Blues
- 1998 Crusaders
- 1999 Crusaders
- 2000 Crusaders
- 2001 ACT Brumbies
- 2002 Crusaders
- 2003 Blues
- Crusaders 4
- Blues 3
- ACT Brumbies 1
- New Zealand 7
- Australia 1
- South Africa 0