2021 Super Rugby season | |||
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Countries | Australia (5 teams) New Zealand (5 teams) | ||
Tournament format(s) | Two regionalised round-robin tournaments followed by a crossover competition | ||
Official website | Official site | ||
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The 2021 Super Rugby season was the 26th season of Super Rugby, an annual men's international rugby union tournament organised by SANZAAR, involving teams from Australia and New Zealand. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the tournament was wholly regionalised, with the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season and the 2021 Super Rugby AU season replacing the previous 15 side format used from 2018 till 2020. Super Rugby Trans-Tasman followed these tournaments, a crossover competition that featured the five Australian sides playing the five New Zealand sides.
The five New Zealand sides competed in the 2nd Super Rugby Aotearoa season, [1] while the four Australian sides, plus the addition again of the Western Force, competed in the 2nd Super Rugby AU season. [2] The competition did not feature any South African sides who announced their withdrawal from Super Rugby in September 2020, [3] while the Japanese side, the Sunwolves, was confirmed as leaving the league in March 2019. [4] The Argentinian side, the Jaguares, were also not named in any competition and did not compete in 2021. Following the draw for the 2021 Super Rugby AU season, Rugby Australia confirmed they were working with New Zealand Rugby on a trans-Tasman competition to follow the Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU seasons. [2] On 13 November, this tournament was confirmed as Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, which featured the Australian and New Zealand sides playing each other in 25 crossover matches before a final. All sides played two home matches, and two away matches as well as a 'Super Round' where all matches will be played in one location over the course of one weekend. The final was then held between the top two teams in the combined competition table. [5] [6]
Both Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa saw law changes again for 2021. Super Rugby AU saw changes to kick-offs and restarts, with a free kick awarded if a kickoff has not taken place 30 seconds following the opposition scoring, a restart is kicked out on the full or if teammates of the kicker are not behind the ball. The free kick will take place at half way. These rules are similar to those that are currently used in Rugby sevens. Also the 'Golden point' law brought in during the 2020 season is tweaked so that full-time will only occur after a try is scored, rather than any form of points. Penalties and drop goals will still count towards the score during extra time, but will not end the game, with play only ending if a try is scored or the 10-minute extra time period ends.
Super Rugby Aotearoa saw the introduction of Goal-line drop outs, brought in for when an attacking player is held up or knocks the ball on in goal. When a kick is forced in goal by the defending team then a goal-line drop out will also take place. These rules were used successfully in the Australian 2020 Super Rugby AU season. Extra time was also used again in 2021, again consisting of a 10-minute period, however differing from the 2021 Super Rugby AU season, the team scoring the first points of any kind in this period will win the match. A captain's referral was also brought in for 2021, similar to those used successfully in cricket and tennis, with New Zealand Rugby becoming the first to trial it in rugby union. Each team is allowed one referral per match which can be used in one of three scenarios: a decision occurring in the final five minutes of a match, an offence in the build up to a try being scored or an act of foul play. All other law variations from the 2020 season were again used in both Super Rugby competitions in the 2021 season. [7]
In the longer term, a new 12-team tournament from 2022 onwards was mooted, with the current four Australian and five New Zealand sides, plus the full time return of the Australian side the Western Force to Super Rugby, following their departure from the competition at the end of the 2017 Super Rugby season. It was suggested they be joined in the competition by teams from the Pacific Islands and Fiji, with South African sides having confirmed their departure from Super Rugby to join an expanded Pro14 competition, and no place for the Argentinian Jaguares either. [8] On 13 November, New Zealand Rugby confirmed Fiji Rugby and Moana Pasifika as its preferred partners for Super Rugby going forward. [9] A Hawaiian side had been mooted to join the competition, with Kanaloa Pasifika having gone through the process to try and join the competition, however they were not selected by New Zealand Rugby. Kanaloa Pasifika launched legal action over this decision, stating that Moana Pasifika had not gone through the correct process to join the competition. [10]
On 24 February 2021, the Fiji Rugby Union announced it had completed its business plan for the entry of Fijian Drua to Super Rugby in 2022 and submitted it to the New Zealand Rugby Union. The plan outlines financial targets, initial playing squad and coaching structure as well as outlining the complete administrative structures for the team. The team will be a separate entity from the Fijian Rugby Union, similar to that of the Drua's entry into the Australian National Rugby Championship in 2017. The team is still required to meet stringent financial conditions set by the New Zealand Rugby Union, and so was seeking NZ$10 million in private investment to allow the team to join in 2022. [11] Further steps were announced on both sides joining the competition in March 2021, with New Zealand Rugby Union agreeing to a sharing of broadcasting revenue with both potential sides. On 24 March 2021, World Rugby announced financial, high performance and administrative support for both potential new franchises, in order to boost the performances of Pacific Islands at international level, while also being able to stay local instead of heading overseas. [12]
On 14 April 2021, both the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika were granted conditional licenses to join Super Rugby in 2022 by the New Zealand Rugby Union. They will join the existing five New Zealand Super Rugby sides, plus the existing four Australian sides along with the Western Force who will return to the competition full-time having taken part in both editions of Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman. [13]
On 12 July 2021, Moana Pasifika were granted an unconditional licence, confirming them for the 2022 Super Rugby season. [14]
The following 2021 Super Rugby squads have been named. Players listed in italics denote non-original squad members.
Forwards | Leni Apisai • Adrian Choat • Gerard Cowley-Tuioti • Sam Darry • Kurt Eklund • Blake Gibson • Josh Goodhue • Alex Hodgman • Dillon Hunt • Akira Ioane • Nepo Laulala • James Lay • Ray Niuia • Dalton Papalii • Jacob Pierce • Taine Plumtree • Marcel Renata • Tom Robinson • Hoskins Sotutu • Luteru Tolai • Karl Tu'inukuafe • Patrick Tuipulotu • Ofa Tu'ungafasi • Soane Vikena |
Backs | Otere Black • Finlay Christie • Caleb Clarke • TJ Faiane • Bryce Heem • Rieko Ioane • AJ Lam • Jone Macilai-Tori • Emoni Narawa • Sam Nock • Stephen Perofeta • Harry Plummer • Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens • Jonathan Ruru • Zarn Sullivan • Mark Tele'a • Tanielu Teleʻa |
Coach | Leon MacDonald |
Forwards | Allan Alaalatoa • Jahrome Brown • Tom Cusack • Folau Fainga'a • Nick Frost • Archer Holz • Tom Hooper • Fred Kaihea • Sefo Kautai • Harry Lloyd • Lachlan Lonergan • Connal McInerney • Will Miller • Cadeyrn Neville • Billy Pollard • Luke Reimer • Tom Ross • Pete Samu • Rory Scott • Scott Sio • James Slipper • Henry Stowers • Darcy Swain • James Tucker • Rob Valetini |
Backs | Lachlan Albert • Tom Banks • Issak Fines • Mack Hansen • Len Ikitau • Solomone Kata • Bayley Kuenzle • Noah Lolesio • Ryan Lonergan • Andy Muirhead • Reesjan Pasitoa • Irae Simone • Reece Tapine • Nic White • Tom Wright |
Coach | Dan McKellar |
Forwards | Naitoa Ah Kuoi • Joe Apikotoa • Kaylum Boshier • Lachlan Boshier • Mitchell Brown • Sam Cane • Samipeni Finau • Tom Florence • Nathan Harris • Luke Jacobson • Zane Kapeli • Mitchell Karpik • Ezekiel Lindenmuth • Josh Lord • Sione Mafileo • Laghlan McWhannell • Liam Messam • Atu Moli • Ollie Norris • Reuben O'Neill • Simon Parker • Aidan Ross • Bradley Slater • Pita Gus Sowakula • Angus Ta'avao • Samisoni Taukei'aho • Viliami Taulani • Tupou Vaa'i |
Backs | Bryn Gatland • Anton Lienert-Brown • Jonah Lowe • Damian McKenzie • Etene Nanai-Seturo • Alex Nankivell • Rameka Poihipi • Rivez Reihana • Xavier Roe • Shaun Stevenson • Bailyn Sullivan • Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi • Chase Tiatia • Kaleb Trask • Quinn Tupaea • Sean Wainui • Brad Weber • Gideon Wrampling |
Coach | Clayton McMillan |
Forwards | Michael Alaalatoa • Liam Allen • Scott Barrett • Ethan Blackadder • George Bower • Tom Christie • Whetu Douglas • Mitchell Dunshea • Cullen Grace • Sione Havili • Oliver Jager • Quentin MacDonald • Andrew Makalio • Brodie McAlister • Joe Moody • Fletcher Newell • Brendon O'Connor • Luke Romano • Tom Sanders • Quinten Strange • Codie Taylor • Isi Tu'ungafasi • Nathan Vella • Sam Whitelock • Tamaiti Williams |
Backs | George Bridge • Fergus Burke • Brett Cameron • Mitchell Drummond • Ere Enari • Braydon Ennor • Leicester Fainga'anuku • Chay Fihaki • Jack Goodhue • Bryn Hall • David Havili • Will Jordan • Manasa Mataele • Josh McKay • Dallas McLeod • Richie Mo'unga • Isaiah Punivai • Rene Ranger • Sevu Reece |
Coach | Scott Robertson |
Forwards | Bo Abra • Tim Anstee • Ollie Callan • Victor Harris • Chris Heiberg • Greg Holmes • Feleti Kaitu'u • Kane Koteka • Fergus Lee-Warner • Tomás Lezana • Kieran Longbottom • Ryan McCauley • Santiago Medrano • Jackson Pugh • Andrew Ready • Tom Robertson • Brynard Stander • Jeremy Thrush • Sitaleki Timani • Angus Wagner • Jack Winchester |
Backs | Marcel Brache • Tomás Cubelli • Kyle Godwin • Richard Kahui • Rob Kearney • Tevita Kuridrani • Brad Lacey • Jono Lance • Grason Makara • Michael McDonald • Jack McGregor • Jake McIntyre • Domingo Miotti • Jordan Olowofela • Jonah Placid • Ian Prior • Toni Pulu • Byron Ralston • Jake Strachan • Henry Taefu |
Coach | Tim Sampson |
Forwards | Fraser Armstrong • Asafo Aumua • James Blackwell • Dane Coles • Gareth Evans • Alex Fidow • Vaea Fifita • Devan Flanders • Brayden Iose • Du'Plessis Kirifi • Kane Le'aupepe • Tyrel Lomax • Tevita Mafileo • Liam Mitchell • Xavier Numia • James O'Reilly • Reed Prinsep • Pouri Rakete-Stones • Ricky Riccitelli • Ardie Savea • Scott Scrafton • Isaia Walker-Leawere |
Backs | Vince Aso • Jordie Barrett • Jamie Booth • Luke Campbell • Jackson Garden-Bachop • Wes Goosen • Simon Hickey • Ngani Laumape • Orbyn Leger • Ruben Love • Pepesana Patafilo • Billy Proctor • Salesi Rayasi • Cameron Roigard • Julian Savea • Jonathan Taumateine • Danny Toala • Peter Umaga-Jensen • Lolagi Visinia |
Coach | Jason Holland |
Forwards | Albert Anae • Ignacio Calas • Ed Craig • Steve Cummins • Cabous Eloff • Pone Fa'amausili • Matt Gibbon • James Hanson • Richard Hardwick • Ross Haylett-Petty • Trevor Hosea • Michael Icely • Isaac Aedo Kailea • Josh Kemeny • Rob Leota • Isi Naisarani • Tom Nowlan • Cameron Orr • Jeral Skelton • Lucio Sordoni • Jordan Uelese • Rhys van Nek • Michael Wells • Brad Wilkin |
Backs | Lachie Anderson • Carter Gordon • Dane Haylett-Petty • Reece Hodge • Lewis Holland • Stacey Ili • Andrew Kellaway • Marika Koroibete • Frank Lomani • Campbell Magnay • Tom Pincus • Joe Powell • Theo Strang • Matt To'omua • James Tuttle • Glen Vaihu • Ilikena Vudogo • Young Tonumaipea • George Worth |
Coach | Kevin Foote • David Wessels |
Forwards | Richie Asiata • Angus Blyth • Matt Faessler • Feao Fotuaika • Ben Grant • Harry Hoopert • Alex Mafi • Fraser McReight • Josh Nasser • Zane Nonggorr • Brandon Paenga-Amosa • Lukhan Salakaia-Loto • Angus Scott-Young • Ryan Smith • Tuaina Taii Tualima • Taniela Tupou • Seru Uru • Sam Wallis • Harry Wilson • Liam Wright • Dane Zander |
Backs | Jock Campbell • Hudson Creighton • Lawson Creighton • Filipo Daugunu • Ilaisa Droasese • Josh Flook • Mac Grealy • Bryce Hegarty • Isaac Henry • Tate McDermott • James O'Connor • Hunter Paisami • Jordan Petaia • Moses Sorovi • Hamish Stewart • Kalani Thomas • Suliasi Vunivalu |
Coach | Brad Thorn |
Forwards | Robbie Abel • Angus Bell • Darcy Breen • Sam Caird • Joe Cotton • Pekahou Cowan • Jack Dempsey • Max Douglas • Tetera Faulkner • Vunipola Fifita • George Francis • Charlie Gamble • Will Harris • Tom Horton • Harry Johnson-Holmes • Dave Porecki • Hugh Sinclair • Lachlan Swinton • Chris Talakai • Alefosio Tatola • Tiaan Tauakipulu • Carlo Tizzano • Andrew Tuala • Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco • Jack Whetton • Jeremy Williams • Michael Wood • Sam Wykes |
Backs | Ben Donaldson • Tane Edmed • Lalakai Foketi • Jake Gordon • Jack Grant • Will Harrison • Jack Maddocks • Tepai Moeroa • Mark Nawaqanitawase • Alex Newsome • Izaia Perese • James Ramm • Triston Reilly • Henry Robertson • James Turner • Joey Walton |
Coach | Jason Gilmore • Rob Penney • Chris Whitaker |
The following referees were selected to officiate the 2021 Super Rugby season: [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43]
Australia | Nic Berry • Graham Cooper • Angus Gardner • Damon Murphy • Amy Perrett • Jordan Way |
New Zealand | James Doleman • Mike Fraser • Ben O'Keeffe • Brendon Pickerill • Paul Williams |
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 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 SANZAR 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 Chiefs are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Hamilton, Waikato. The team competes in the Super Rugby competition, previously known as the Super 12 and Super 14, and are one of the competition's five New Zealand teams. Their primary home ground is FMG Stadium Waikato.
The Western Force is an Australian professional rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia, currently competing in Super Rugby Pacific. They previously played in Super Rugby from 2006 until they were axed from the competition in 2017. Following their axing they played in the National Rugby Championship in 2018 and 2019, replacing the Perth Spirit, and Global Rapid Rugby from 2018 to 2020, an Indo-Pacific competition organised by Andrew Forrest.
Jack Tafa Lam is a New Zealand-born, Australian-raised rugby player who plays as a flanker for Moana Pasifika and internationally for Samoa.
Quinten J. Strange is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition.
The Fijian Drua is a professional rugby union team based in Fiji that competes in the Super Rugby. The team was created by the Fiji Rugby Union and launched in August 2017, shortly before the 2017 National Rugby Championship. The team previously competed in the Australian National Rugby Championship competition between 2017 and 2019, when the tournament was disbanded.
Raymond 'Ray' Niuia is a New Zealand born Samoan rugby union player most recently played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He has also played for both the Highlanders and the Blues. His position is Hooker.
Fetuli M. A. Paea is a Tongan rugby union player. He has represented Tonga internationally and has also represented the nation in Rugby sevens. His playing position is Centre or Wing. He currently plays for Italian team Zebre Parma in United Rugby Championship.
Jacob K. Norris is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the Moana Pasifika in the Super Rugby competition. His position is flanker. He has played for the Māori All Blacks.
Samiuela Moli is a professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Super Rugby club Moana Pasifika. Born in New Zealand, he represents Tonga at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Tasman are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, New Zealand. Established in 2006, they play in the National Provincial Championship. They play their home games at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim or Trafalgar Park in Nelson. The team is affiliated with the Crusaders Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are red and blue.
Moana Pasifika is a rugby union team made up of players from various Pacific Island nations as well as New Zealand or Australian born players of Pasifika heritage, including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
The 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season was a professional club rugby union tournament organised by New Zealand Rugby. Announced on 11 November 2020, the tournament was the second season of Super Rugby Aotearoa, featuring the 5 New Zealand Super Rugby sides, ran from 26 February to 8 May 2021. The tournament was won by the Crusaders, who defeated the Chiefs 24–13 in the final at Orangetheory Stadium, earning them their second consecutive Super Rugby Aotearoa title, and fifth straight Super Rugby competition title.
Super Rugby Trans-Tasman was a professional men's rugby union club competition in Australia and New Zealand. It featured the five Super Rugby AU teams playing the five Super Rugby Aotearoa teams, followed by a final, and ran from 14 May to 19 June 2021.
Neria Fomai is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a centre or wing for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has represented Manu Samoa – for which he is eligible due to his Samoan heritage – both in the fifteen-a-side form of the game and rugby sevens.
Timoci Tavatavanawai Tabaleka is a Fijian rugby union player who plays for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Highlanders in Super Rugby. He plays mostly in the Wing position but can also play Centre.
William L. Havili is a New Zealand born Tongan rugby union player who plays as a first five-eighth for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby and Tasman in the Bunnings NPC.
The 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season is the 27th season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the previous seasons were replaced with Super Rugby Unlocked, Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU in 2020, and Super Rugby Aotearoa, Super Rugby AU, and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman in 2021. The 2022 edition will revert to a 12-team competition, with a single pool replacing the geographical conference system, as well as introducing a new name for the reformatted competition. The season is expected to run from 18 February, with the final to be played on 18 June - culminating before the start of the mid-year international window.
Lincoln McClutchie is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a first five-eighth for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby.