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Report: Super Rugby Aotearoa to return in 2021 - with a twist

03 Sep 2020

(Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Super Rugby Aotearoa was always intended as a one-off, stop-gap measure to fill the rugby void created due to the global coronavirus pandemic. The ongoing impacts of the pandemic mean that the competition could return next season, however.

While New Zealand Rugby were originally hoping to have their newly created competition up and running in 2021, the ongoing back and forth with Rugby Australia coupled with the lack of certainty surrounding international travel appears to have forced the governing body’s hand, according to reports from Newshub.

The five-team NZ-only competition proved a huge hit with fans but reception from the players was mixed, with the tough physical derbies proving exceptionally hard on the body.

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According to Newshub, Super Rugby Aotearoa will return next year but there’s also a very real possibility of a Pacific side being included in the competition. Despite an even number of teams allowing for the season to run without byes, NZR would likely retain the two rest weekends for each team to prevent burnout.

In Australia, Super Rugby AU would also be played with the same format as this season – including three knockout matches at the tail-end of the season. Given the negative reception to the lack of a grand final in New Zealand, it would come as no surprise if NZR introduced at least one play-off match to decide the champion at the end of the regular season.

South Africa's four Super Rugby sides – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – are reportedly set to join Europe's Pro14 competition by early next year.https://t.co/8HIkfc0Eqt
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 29, 2020

Following the two respective competitions, a crossover tournament between the two competitions is likely to be played.

Were that the case this year, and the New Zealand teams were each seeded and played off against the corresponding side from Australia, the draw would likely be as follows:

Crusaders v Brumbies
Blues v Reds
Hurricanes v Rebels
Highlanders v Waratahs
Chiefs v Western Force

Sign-off on next year’s competition is expected within the next fortnight.

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YeowNotEven 1 hour ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Would have been awesome to have a Bledisloe ANZAC game.

It would suck if they had it in Perth every year though. Gotta get it to Eden park.

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David Gomiez 1 hour ago

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Spew_81 1 hour ago

Hurricanes vs Waratahs takes: The yellow wall in midfield, Tahs backs outshined

Love should get some time at 10. He’s clearly got the ability to be a second playmaker, but primarily at 15. Some time at 10, even just standing at first receiver, will only help his playmaking skills. He set up two tries with good distribution.

He kicks goals well. He could be a second B Barrett. But keep his main position at 15.

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SG 1 hour ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

England have absolutely no need for him. Tom Willis and Ben Earl are better with a much higher work rate.

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Thomas Walsh 1 hour ago

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JW 2 hours ago

'Ulster, though no one wants to admit it, isn't much more than a development province right now.'

No full games on the IRU YT channel unfortunately, all on subscription? Looks a fairly good level (1A).

Yes I mean I wouldn’t really know the local ratio of origin here, but certainly as a province with less resources mine has a ratio that veers heavily towards club rep. The club stories are often the best so get probably an imbalanced proportion of coverage to where most players actually come from though.

Those were a couple of Ulster (regional) clubs too, good good. Those clubs/size towns are very much where you find most talent coming from (compared to the big city), so your productivity depends very much on your systems in place for scouting talent. With the more wealthy and popular sport of NRL (hence more info out there) I’ve seen some interesting studies on player origins in this respect, which I think would be a very balanced base of data to draw conclusions from.

Yes I’m wondering how those names as examples compare to the likes of Bryne getting squeezed out for a lack of places. I’m only thinking of effects far down the line as a result of Irelands #1 ranking and increased publicity/interest and how Irelands system will take advantage of them.

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GP 2 hours ago

James O'Connor earns first Crusaders start against Moana Pasifika

Regarding the Crusaders side . Great to see promising young lock Jamie Hannah back in the starting team. He has certainly been through the mill since debuting for the Crusaders, even before playing for Canterbury. All his hard work has paid off. Antonio Shalfoon , who has been rested for this match has been amazing locking with AB captain Scott Barrett. I really rate Jamie Hannah as one of the best young locks of which there are a few coming through. Including his Canterbury and Crusaders team mate Liam Jack. Father is Graham Jack ,he played for Canterbury and the Crusaders in the 1990’s. Older brother of Chris, who of course was an All Black.

4 Go to comments

Andrew Nichols 2 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

Gloucester are in the market for a top-class replacement ..Well why would they then be talking to HS?

7 Go to comments

Utiku Old Boy 2 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

I include Cunningham-South. He was born in England but moved to NZ at 4 yrs and learnt his rugby there. His dad was a schoolboy coach. In recent years, Teimana Harrison was - as was Brad Shields.

7 Go to comments

GB 2 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

Cunningham-South was born in the UK but raised in NZ.

Makes a good point, wouldn't walk into the English set up.

Better to roll his sleeves up and play himself into the ABs

7 Go to comments

Spew_81 2 hours ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Not sure what the ethical issue is. If it’s going for the money, it’s either do that or NZ rugby slowly dies as all the better players leave. So it’s the more lesser of two evils. Sell out a bit more as a Union, or the players sell out one by one.

42 Go to comments

Spew_81 2 hours ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Yes, the team was similar. But the two locks made a huge difference. Kaino wasn’t a lock and Tuipolutu has only very recently started playing close to his potential (his work rate was terrible until recently).

The Irish lineout maul wouldn’t have been the weapon it was on that day if Hansen started Whitelock and Retallick (or even two proper locks). Though they wouldn’t have been guaranteed to win.

Doing the new haka when the Irish were mourning a great of theirs didn’t help. The action at the end of that haka has been interpreted negatively and some see it as a but disrespectful.

Still if the All Blacks did their normal haka they wouldn’t have been guaranteed to win.

42 Go to comments

Koro Teeps 2 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

Absolutely no certainty he would make the current English squad. He’s not in the All Black conversation either. Physical, explosive player with ball in hand but sometimes struggles to impose himself fully on all aspects of the game.

7 Go to comments

DC 2 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

Who are the Kiwis (plural)? The only one I can think of is Ethan Root.

7 Go to comments

Gradier Walter 4 hours ago

Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders