The primary objective of any change to Super Rugby must be to introduce a model which maximises the competition’s integrity, simplicity and fairness, and doing so with sixteen teams is eminently achievable.
This ensures that the competition:
- Becomes easier to understand
- Makes every game matter
- Rewards the best teams with finals qualification
- Leverages internationalism as competitive advantage
- Puts fans first; breeding tribalism and belonging
How can the competition do this?
- Remove conference structures entirely
- Ensure that all teams play every team in the competition
- Have one competition ladder with the top teams making finals
- Promote geography and touring as a part of the game and a point of difference to other codes
- Advance competition presentation for the digital age
How does the competition work?
With the confirmation of the exit from Super Rugby of the Cheetahs and Kings, a 16-team competition remains possible. Those teams are:
- Australia: Brumbies, Force, Rebels, Reds, Waratahs
- New Zealand: Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders, Hurricanes
- South Africa: Bulls, Lione, Sharks, Stormers
- Expansion: Jaguares, Sunwolves
- Full round-robin structure with each team playing every team once, and one additional “Rivalry Round” fixture as the 16th game for each team
- This delivers each team 8 home and 8 away matches for the season and ensures that there are up to 8 matches in every round, with each teams receiving 2 byes during the season
- The season still fits within the 21 week limitation required by all nations given a mid-February start and the June break
- This totals 128 matches in total and 40 games in Australia
What about the Finals Series?
- With no conferences there is one ladder and the best 8 teams qualify into the three week structure of Quarter Final > Semi Final > Final, with Quarter Finals being 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5
- If a fourth week was possible, it would be beneficial to change the first week of finals to 1v4, 2v3 and 5v8, 6v7 with the top half getting a second chance and the bottom half playing for elimination immediately. This would mirror the AFL and NRL models, and has the benefit of adding an extra 2 finals matches which attract premium broadcast values
Match Calculations
Total Matches:
- Current 18 Team Competition: 135
- Proposed 15 Team Competition: 120
- RUPA Endorsed 16 Team Competition: 128
Games in Australian:
- Current 18 Team Competition: 37 or 38
- Proposed 15 Team Competition: 32
- RUPA Endorsed 16 Team Competition: 40
Aus vs. Aus Matches:
- Current 18 Team Competition: 30
- Proposed 15 Team Competition: 12
- RUPA Endorsed 16 Team Competition: 20 < 22
Home Games Per Team:
- Current 18 Team Competition: 7 or 8
- Proposed 15 Team Competition: 8
- RUPA Endorsed 16 Team Competition: 8
Opposition Teams Played:
- Current 18 Team Competition: 75%
- Proposed 15 Team Competition: 82%
- RUPA Endorsed 16 Team Competition: 100%