List of Super Rugby champions

Last updated

Twelve time champion Crusaders (red) and three-time champion Bulls competing for a line-out Lineout.JPG
Twelve time champion Crusaders (red) and three-time champion Bulls competing for a line-out

Super Rugby is the major professional rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere. [1] The competition began as Super 12 in 1996, consisting of 12 teams from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. An extra Australian and South African team were added in 2005 and the name was changed to Super 14. A fifteenth team joined in 2011 and the competition was rebranded as Super Rugby. [1] The current format consists of three conferences of five teams from each country. Teams play other members of their conference twice (home and away) and four teams from each of the other two conferences once. The top team in each conference and the next best three over all conferences advance to the finals. [2] In all previous formats there were no conferences and each team played every team once, with the top four progressing to the finals. The tournament is organised and governed by SANZAAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentine Rugby). Super Rugby is considered a successor to the Super Six (1992) and Super 10 (19931995), although SANZAR did not administer those tournaments. [3]

Contents

Champions

YearNo. of TeamsFinalLosing semi-finalists
WinnersScoreRunners-up1st losing semi-finalists2nd losing semi-finalists
1996 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland Blues 45–21 Flag of South Africa.svg Natal Sharks Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds Flag of South Africa.svg Northern Transvaal
1997 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland Blues 23–7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg ACT Brumbies Flag of New Zealand.svg Wellington Hurricanes Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
1998 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Canterbury Crusaders 20–13 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland Blues Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks Flag of New Zealand.svg Otago Highlanders
1999 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Canterbury Crusaders 24–19 Flag of New Zealand.svg Otago Highlanders Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
2000 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 20–19 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders Flag of South Africa.svg Cats
2001 12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies 36–6 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks Flag of South Africa.svg Cats Flag of Australia (converted).svg Reds
2002 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 31–13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders
2003 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 21–17 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies
2004 12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies 47–38 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs
2005 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 35–25 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes
2006 14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 19–12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls
2007 14 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls 20–19 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues
2008 14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 20–12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes
2009 14 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls 61–17 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders
2010 14 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls 25–17 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs
2011 15 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Reds 18–13 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
2012 15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 37–6 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
2013 15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 27–22 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls
2014 15 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs 33–32 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies
2015 15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders 21–14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies
2016 18 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes 20–3 Flag of South Africa.svg Lions Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders
2017 18 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 25–17 Flag of South Africa.svg Lions Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes
2018 15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 37–18 Flag of South Africa.svg Lions Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs
2019 15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 19-3 Flag of Argentina.svg Jaguares Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes
2020 15season cancelled
2021 10Regional competitions played, no official champions
2022 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 21–7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies
2023 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 25–20 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies
2024 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 41–10 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes

By team

TeamCombinedSuper 12Super 14Super Rugby
Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 12525
Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 2002
Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls 3030
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies 2200
Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 4301
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Reds 1001
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs 1001
Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders 1001
Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes 1001
Totals2710512

By country

CountryWinning teamsCombinedSuper 12Super 14Super Rugby
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Crusaders
Blues
Chiefs
Highlanders
Hurricanes
208210
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Brumbies
Reds
Waratahs
4202
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Bulls 3030
Totals92710512

Competition structure

19962010

Every season, each team played every other team once, in a round-robin. The venues for regular season matches alternated each year, therefore teams would not play one another at the same venue in consecutive seasons unless they met in the play-offs. The tournament used the rugby union bonus points system; teams were awarded four points for a win, two for a draw, and none for a loss. They received bonus points for scoring four or more tries in a match, and for a loss by seven or fewer points. [4]

After each team had completed their regular season matches, the top 4 teams qualified for the semi-finals. Semi-finals were held under a Shaughnessy playoff system; the first-placed team in the table hosted the fourth-placed, and second hosted third. The winner of each semi-final advanced to the final, held at the home ground of whichever team amassed more points in the round-robin table. [5]

20112015

In 2011, Melbourne Rebels joined the Super Rugby competition, meaning that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa would each be represented by five teams. The tournament format was also changed. Teams are divided into three conferences; one per country. [6] Each team plays other teams in the same conference home and away, and plays eight further matches against teams from other conferences, for a total of sixteen games. [7] Each team receives two byes throughout a season; from 2014 no points are added to the team's total on the day a bye is allocated. [8] The highest placed team in each conference qualifies for the finals stage, along with three highest scoring teams which were not conference winners. The two highest scoring teams advance straight to the semi-finals, while the 3rd to 6th placed teams play-off to decide which two teams advance to the semis. The format of the semi-finals and final is the same as that previously used in the Super 14. [9] The bonus points system has also been retained, with the single addition that a team receives four points for each bye. [10]

20162020

2016 saw the tournament expand to 18 teams with the inclusion of an Argentine team and Japanese team. The South African conference was split in two with the Sunwolves in South African conference 1 and Jaguares in South African conference 2. South African conference 1 teams will play Australian and New Zealand teams in alternative years with South African conference 2 teams. Every team plays 16 games in the regular season with the top 8 teams qualifying for the quarter-finals 1 v 8 etc. with each conference winner being seeded 1–4.

2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 Super Rugby season was suspended, and then ultimately cancelled. Regional tournaments were set up to complete the 2020 season, with Super Rugby AU played in Australia, Super Rugby Aotearoa played in New Zealand and Super Rugby Unlocked played in South Africa. The Jaguares and Sunwolves didn't compete in these regional tournaments, while the Western Force competed in Super Rugby AU and the Cheetahs, Griquas and Pumas competed in Super Rugby Unlocked. Only Super Rugby AU had a final as such for 2020, with a qualifying final and then final. Following the 2020 season, the South African sides withdrew from Super Rugby, while the Jaguares and Sunwolves also left the competition. Therefore, in 2021 only 10 teams competed in Super Rugby, again in regional tournaments with the addition of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman played between both Australian and New Zealand sides. A final was added to the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition in 2021, while a qualifying final and then final was again played in Super Rugby AU. Super Rugby Trans-Tasman will also have a final.

Tournaments

Key

SymbolMeaning
Champions
GamesRegular season record
PointsRegular season points scored and conceded
DiffDifference between points scored and conceded
BPBonus points
TPTable points

Teams mentioned are those that qualified for the play-off rounds. Results are written so that the score of the team in each row is mentioned first. The highlighted team won that season's Super Rugby final. [11] [12]

Note. For 1996 and 1997, it was the policy of the South African Rugby Union to send the top four teams of the previous year's Currie Cup to the Super 12. This resulted in the Sharks, Transvaal, Northern Transvaal and Western Province playing in 1996 and the Sharks, the Gauteng Lions, Free State Cheetahs and Northern Transvaal playing in 1997. In 1998, South Africa set up four (and later five, then six) Super Rugby regions, similar to the policy adopted by the New Zealand Rugby Union. For these areas, please see Super Rugby franchise areas. [11]

Super 12 (1996–2005)

Super 12 annual playoff teams and Champion (19962005)
YearDurationTable positionTeamGamesPointsBPTPSemi scoreFinal scoreRefs
playedwondrawnlostforagainstdiff
1996 28 February
31 May
1 Reds 11902320247+7354125–43 [13]
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 11803408354+5494148–1145–21
3 Northern Transvaal 11803329208+12163811–48
4 Sharks 11605389277+11293343–2521–45
1997 1 March
25 May
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 111010435283+15285055–3623–7 [14]
2 Brumbies 11803406291+11594133–207–23
3 Hurricanes 11605416314+102103420–33
4 Sharks 11524321350–2963036–55
1998 27 February
30 May
1 Blues 11902388296+9274337–3113–20 [15]
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 11803340260+8094136–3220–13
3 Coastal Sharks 11704329263+6683632–36
4 Highlanders 11704343279+6463431–37
1999 26 February
30 May
1 Reds 11812233170+6323622–28 [16]
2 Stormers 11803290244+4643618–33
3 Highlanders 11803280203+7733533–1819–24
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 11713322262+6033328–2224–19
2000 25 February
27 May
1 Brumbies 11902393196+19794528–519–20 [17]
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 11803369293+7673937–1520–19
3 Highlanders 11605310280+3083215–37
4 Cats 11704320334–144325–28
2001 23 February
26 May
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies 11803348204+14484036–636–6 [18]
2 Sharks 11803322246+7663830–126–36
3 Cats 11704285244+4163412–30
4 Reds 11605300277+238326–36
2002 22 February
25 May
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 111100469264+20575134–2331–13 [19]
2 Waratahs 11803337284+5373910–51
3 Brumbies 11704374230+144103851–1013–31
4 Highlanders 11803329207+12263823–34
2003 21 February
24 May
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 111001393185+20894942–2121–17 [20]
2 Crusaders 11803358263+9584039–1617–21
3 Hurricanes 11704324284+4073516–39
4 Brumbies 11605358313+4573121–42
2004 20 February
22 May
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies 11803408269+13984032–1747–38 [21]
2 Crusaders 11704345303+4263427–1638–47
3 Stormers 11704286260+2653316–27
4 Chiefs 11704274251+2353317–32
2005 25 February
28 May
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 11902459281+17894547–735–25 [22]
2 Waratahs 11902322174+14884423–1325–35
3 Bulls 11704301229+7263413–23
4 Hurricanes 11803281248+332347–47

Super 14 (2006–2010)

Super 14 annual playoff teams and Champion (20062010)
YearDurationTable positionTeamGamesPointsBPTPSemi scoreFinal scoreRefs
playedwondrawnlostforagainstdiff
2006 February 10
May 27
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 131111412210+20255135–1519–12 [23]
2 Hurricanes 131003328226+10274716–1412–19
3 Waratahs 13904362192+17094514–16
4 Bulls 13715355290+6573815–35
2007 February 2
May 19
1 Sharks 131003355214+14154534181920 [24]
2 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls 13904388223+165642271220-19
3 Crusaders 13805382235+14710421227
4 Blues 13904355235+1206421834
2008 February 15
May 31
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 131102369176+193852332220-12 [25]
2 Waratahs 13913255186+6954328131220
3 Sharks 13913271209+624421328
4 Hurricanes 13814310204+1067412233
2009 February 13
May 30
1 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls 131003338271+67646362361-17 [26]
2 Chiefs 13904338236+10294514101761
3 Hurricanes 13904380279+1018441014
4 Crusaders 13814231198+337412336
2010 February 12
May 29
1 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls 131003436345+9174739242517 [27]
2 Stormers 13904365171+1948442561725
3 Waratahs 13904385288+97743625
4 Crusaders 13814388295+937412439

Super Rugby (2011–)

Six team playoff tournament (2011–2015)
Super Rugby annual playoff teams and Champion (2011 2015)
YearDurationTable positionTeamConference
position
GamesPointsBPTPQualifier scoreSemi scoreFinal scoreRefs
playedwondrawnlostforagainstdiff
2011 February 18
July 9
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Reds 1161303429309+12066630-1318–13 [28]
2 Stormers 1161204400257+14376310-29
3 Crusaders 1161114436273+16376136-829-1013-18
4 Blues 2161015405335+70106026-1313-30
5 Waratahs 2161006398252+14695713–26
6 Sharks 2161015407339+687578–36
2012 February 24
August 4
1 Stormers 1161402350254+9626619-26 [29] [30]
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 1161204444358+8686420-1737-6
3 Reds 1161105359347+1265817-30
4 Crusaders 2161105485343+14296128-1317-20
5 Bulls 2161006472369+103115913-28
6 Sharks 3161006436348+88115930-1726-196-37
2013 February 16
August 4
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 1161204458364+94106620-1927-22 [31] [32]
2 Bulls 1161204448330+11876323-26
3 Crusaders 2161105446307+13986038-919-20
4 Brumbies 1161024430295+13586015-1326-2322-27
5 Reds 2161024321296+256589-38
6 Cheetahs 2161006382258+2465413-15
2014 February 16
August 2
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs 1161204481272+209105826-833-32 [33]
2 Crusaders 1161105445322+12375138-632-33
3 Sharks 1161105406203+11365031-276-38
4 Brumbies 2161006412378+3454532-308-26
5 Chiefs 216826384378+684430-32
6 Highlanders 316808401442-41104227-31
2015 February 13
July 4
1 Hurricanes 1161402458288+170106629-914-21 [34]
2 Waratahs 1161105409313+9685217-3517-35
3 Stormers 1161015373323+5034519-39
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders 2161105450333+11795324-1435-1721-14
5 Chiefs 3161006372299+7384814-24
6 Brumbies 216907369261+108114739-199-29
Eight team playoff tournament (2016–)
Super Rugby annual playoff teams and Champion (2016 )
YearDurationTable
position
TeamConference
position
Qualifying
path
GamesPointsBPTPQF scoreSemi scoreFinal scoreRefs
playedwondrawnlostforagainstdiff
2016 February 26
August 6
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes 11st NZ Conf151104458314+14495341–025–920–3 [35]
2 Lions 11st AF2 Conf151104535349+18685242–2542–303–20
3 Highlanders 2NZ/AU wc151104422273+14985215–930–42
4 Chiefs 3NZ/AU wc151104491341150+75160–219–25
5 Stormers 11st AF1 Conf151014440274+16695121–60
6 Crusaders 4NZ/AU wc151104487317+17065025–42
7 Brumbies 11st AU Conf151005425326+993439–15
8 Sharks 2AF wc15915360269+915430–41
2017 February 23
August 5
1 Lions 11st AF2 Conf15140159026832296523–2144–2917–25 [36]
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 11st NZ Conf151401544303+24176317–027–1325–17
3 Stormers 11st AF1 Conf151005490436+5434311–17
4 Brumbies 11st AU Conf15609315295+20103416–35
5 Hurricanes 2NZ/AU wc151203596272+324105835–1644–29
6 Chiefs 3NZ/AU wc151212433292+14175717–1113–27
7 Highlanders 4NZ/AU wc151104488308+1807510–17
8 Sharks 2AF wc15915408354+5444621–23
2018 February 17
August 4
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 11st NZ Conf161402542295+24776340–1030–1227–18 [37]
2 Lions 11st SA Conf16907519435+84104640–2344–2618–27
3 Waratahs 11st AU Conf16916557445+11264430–2326–44
4 Hurricanes 2NZ wc161105474343+13174332–1112–30
5 Chiefs 3NZ wc161105463368+9554931–32
6 Highlanders 4NZ wc161006437445-844423–30
7 Jaguares 2SA wc16907409418−923823–40
8 Sharks 3SA wc16718437442−563610–40
2019 February 15
July 6
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 11st NZ Conf161132497257+24085838–1430–2619–3 [38]
2 Jaguares 11st SA Conf161105461352+10975121–1639–73–19
3 Brumbies 11st AU Conf161006430366+6484838–137–39
4 Hurricanes 2NZ wc161213449362+8735335–2826–30
5 Bulls 2SA wc16826410369+4154128–35
6 Sharks 3SA wc16718343335+873713–38
7 Chiefs 3NZ wc16727451465−1443616–21
8 Highlanders 4NZ wc16637441392+4963614–38
2020 January 31
March 14
season cancelled
2021 February 19
June 19
regional competitions played, no official champions
2022 February 18
June 18
1 Blues N/AN/A141301472284+18865835–620–197–21 [39]
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders N/AN/A141103470268+20285237–1520–721–7
3 Chiefs N/AN/A141004453348+10554539–157–20
4 Brumbies N/AN/A141004404306+9844435–2519–20
5 Hurricanes N/AN/A14806441330+11173925–35
6 Waratahs N/AN/A14806365317+4863815–39
7 Reds N/AN/A14806342327+1533515–37
8 Highlanders N/AN/A144010348345+37236–35
2023 February 24
June 24
1 Chiefs N/AN/A141301487261+22675929–2019–620–25 [40]
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders N/AN/A141004457278+17984849–852–1525–20
3 Blues N/AN/A141004446292+15464641–1215–52
4 Brumbies N/AN/A141004474393+8164637–336–19
5 Hurricanes N/AN/A14905480338+14254133–37
6 Waratahs N/AN/A14608387408−2173112–41
7 Drua N/AN/A14608370492−1222268–49
8 Reds N/AN/A14509391451−6042420–29

Regional competitions champions

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 & New Zealand).

YearSuper Rugby AUSuper Rugby AotearoaSuper Rugby UnlockedSuper Rugby Trans-Tasman
2020 Brumbies Crusaders Bulls
2021 Reds Crusaders —* Blues

* South Africa withdrew from all Super Rugby competitions at the end of the 2020 Super Rugby season.

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The 2016 Super Rugby season was the 21st season of Super Rugby and the first season featuring an expanded 18-team format. It was also the first season that teams outside Australia, New Zealand and South Africa featured, with the Jaguares from Argentina and the Sunwolves from Japan taking part. This season also saw the return of the Kings, who competed just once before, in the 2013 Super Rugby season. The round-robin games took place every weekend from 26 February to 16 July 2016, followed by the finals series at the end of July and culminating in the final on 6 August.

The 2014 Super Rugby Final, was played between the New South Wales Waratahs from Australia and the Crusaders from New Zealand on 2 August 2014. It was the 19th final in the Super Rugby competition's history and the fourth under the expanded 15-team format. The Waratahs had qualified in first place during the regular season, while the Crusaders had qualified in second place. Both teams hosted semi-final matches, with the Waratahs defeating fellow Australian team the Brumbies in Sydney and the Crusaders defeating South African team the Sharks in Christchurch. As the Waratahs had qualified higher, the final was held in Sydney, it was the third time that the Waratahs, and the Crusaders had met in a Grand Final, the Crusaders had defeated the Waratahs in the 2008, and 2005 Grand Finals.

The 2017 Super Rugby season was the 22nd season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. It was the second season featuring an expanded 18-team format, following the competition's expansion from 15 teams prior to the 2016 season.

The 2018 Super Rugby season was the 23rd season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. After two seasons in which 18 teams participated, the 2018 season reverted to a 15-team competition, consisting of three geographical conferences.

The 2019 Super Rugby season was the 24th season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. The 2019 season was the second season using the reduced 15-team format consisting of three geographical conferences since being reduced from an 18-team competition in 2017.

The 2020 Super Rugby season was the 25th season of Super Rugby, an international men's rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR involving teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. It is the third tournament in its current 15 team format, the last before the Japanese side the Sunwolves withdraw from the tournament ahead of a new format in 2021. The current champions are the Crusaders, who won their 10th title in 2019.

The 2019 Super Rugby Final was played between the Crusaders of New Zealand and the Jaguares of Argentina. It was the 24th final in the Super Rugby competition's history. The Crusaders had qualified in first place on the regular season standings, while the Jaguares had qualified in second place. Both teams hosted quarter-final and semi-final matches.

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