Super Rugby AU

Last updated

Super Rugby AU
Super Rugby AU logo 2021.png
Official Logo
Sport Rugby Union
First season 2020
Ceased 2021
No. of teams5
Country Australia
Last
champion(s)
Reds (2021; 1st title)
Most titles
Broadcaster(s) See broadcasters
Sponsor(s) Harvey Norman
Related
competitions
Super Rugby
Super Rugby Aotearoa
Super Rugby Unlocked
Official website SuperRugby.com

Super Rugby AU, formerly named the Harvey Norman Super Rugby AU for sponsorship purposes, [1] was a rugby union competition organised by Rugby Australia. The competition was created to supplant the 2020 Super Rugby season, which had been suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to ongoing international travel restrictions relating to the pandemic, the competition was continued with a second season in 2021. [2] The competition features the four Australian Super Rugby teams from the Australian conference, with the addition of the Western Force, in a round-robin tournament over a 12-week period, made up of 10 rounds, a qualifying final and a final.

Contents

The competition was announced on 12 May, [3] with the first round commencing on 3 July, making it the third sport to return in Australia (behind AFL and NRL) and just the second rugby union competition to return. Initially, all games were played behind-closed-doors, with restrictions on crowds being eased over time. [4] [5]

Results

YearFinal
WinnerScore / VenueRunners-up
2020 Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg
Brumbies
28–23
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Flag of Queensland.svg
Reds
2021 Flag of Queensland.svg
Reds
19–16
Lang Park, Brisbane
Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg
Brumbies

Media coverage

Television

During the 2020 season, all matches were televised live by affiliate partners Fox Sports. Following Rugby Australia's broadcast deal with Nine Network, all games will be broadcast on streaming service Stan, with one game a round being simulcast on Nine's flagship free to air channel. [6]

Broadcasters

Super Rugby AU was shown by the following broadcasters:

BroadcasterCountry(ies)
Digicel Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands
Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea
Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Islands
Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga
Flag of Tuvalu.svg Tuvalu
Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu
ESPN
ESPN International
Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Flag of Chile.svg Chile
Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador
Flag of Guyana.svg Guyana
Flag of Paraguay.svg Paraguay
Flag of Peru.svg Peru
Flag of Suriname.svg Suriname
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay
Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
Nine Network
Stan Sport
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Sky Sport Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
SuperSport Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Telefónica Flag of Spain.svg Spain
Wowow Flag of Japan.svg Japan

Corporate relations

Sponsorship

The 2020 tournament was run by Rugby Australia with the sponsorship of Foxtel which provided television coverage on its Fox Sports channels with Vodafone (Australia) being the naming rights sponsor. Gilbert is the official supplier of all rugby balls. Ahead of the 2021 season, Foxtel and Vodafone ended their sponsorship agreements, with Nine Network and Stan Sports providing the television coverage. Ahead of the start of the 2021 season, Rugby Australia announced a naming right sponsorship deal with retail company Harvey Norman. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Harvey Norman announced as Super Rugby AU naming rights partner for 2021". Rugby.com.au. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  2. "Revealed: Rugby Australia announce 2021 Super Rugby AU draw". www.rugby.com.au. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  3. "Suncorp Stadium derby to open Super Rugby AU competition". Rugby Australia. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  4. "PM opens door for Super Rugby AU crowds". Rugby Australia. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  5. "Brumbies get crowd boost for Super AU decider". ESPN.com. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  6. Phillips, Sam (9 November 2020). "Nine, Rugby Australia confirm groundbreaking $100m broadcast deal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 December 2020.