The Highlanders is a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin that compete in Super Rugby. The team was formed in 1996 to represent the lower South Island in the newly formed Super 12 competition, and includes the Otago, North Otago and Southland unions. The Highlanders take their name from the Scottish immigrants that founded the Otago, North Otago, and Southland regions in the 1840s and 1850s.
The Blues are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Auckland, who play in the Super Rugby competition. Like New Zealand's four other Super Rugby teams, the Blues were established by the NZRU in 1996. One of the most successful teams in Super Rugby history, the Blues won the competition in its first two seasons, 1996 and 1997, and again in 2003, as well as a Trans Tasman competition in 2021, additionally, the team were finalists in 1998 and 2022 and semi-finalists in 2007, 2011 and 2023.
Ryan Tamarua Nicholas is an Australian-born Japanese rugby union player who plays for Suntory Sungoliath of the Top League in Japan. In July 2011, he received Japanese citizenship. Although he is of Cook Island Maori heritage, he has played internationally for Japan since 2008.
Benjamin Robert Smith is a retired New Zealand rugby union player, currently working for Super Rugby side Highlanders' management team. He formerly played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, Otago in the ITM Cup, Pau in the Top 14 and Kobelco Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One.
Joseph Thomas Wheeler is a New Zealand television presenter and former rugby union player. He played as a lock or flanker for Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League. Wheeler was selected in the New Zealand Māori All Blacks and represented them on the November 2013 tour of North America.
Ash Dixon is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a hooker for Green Rockets Tokatsu in the Japan Rugby League One. He formerly played for the Highlanders in Super Rugby and for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He has also played for the Hurricanes and Auckland.
Caleb Makene is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an outside back or fly-half for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and Utah Warriors in the Major League Rugby (MLR).
Hugh Renton is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Highlanders in Super Rugby.
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.
Ethan de Groot is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Super Rugby club Highlanders. Born in Australia, he represents New Zealand at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds. He is the son of Rodney and Nikkila de Groot.
Sione Misiloi is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the Highlanders in Super Rugby. His playing position is flanker. He has signed for the Highlanders squad in 2020.
Scott Gregory is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for Zebre in the United Rugby Championship.
Connor Garden-Bachop is a New Zealand rugby union player of Cook Islands descent who plays for the Highlanders in Super Rugby. His playing position is wing. He has signed for the Highlanders squad in 2020.
Jona Malanicagi Nareki is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the Highlanders in Super Rugby. His playing position is wing. He has signed for the Highlanders squad in 2020.
Pouri Rakete-Stones is a New Zealand rugby player who plays as a prop for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.
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.
Wellington are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Wellington, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1879, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Sky Stadium in Wellington. The team is affiliated with the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are black and gold.
Otago are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1881, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin in the Otago region. The team is affiliated with the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are navy blue and gold.
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.
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