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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 Sharks is a South African professional rugby union team based in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. They compete internationally in the United Rugby Championship and EPCR Challenge Cup, having competed in the Super Rugby competition until 2020. They are centred on the Sharks union, also based in Durban and drawing players from all of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The team plays its home matches at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban.
The Lions is a South African professional rugby union team based in Johannesburg in the Gauteng province. They competed in the Super Rugby competition until 2020, and have competed in the United Rugby Championship since 2021. They are the successor of the teams known as Transvaal (1996), Gauteng Lions (1997) and the Cats (1998–2006).
Mahlatse Chiliboy Ralepelle, is a former rugby union player for the Sharks in Super Rugby and in the Currie Cup. His usual position is at hooker.
Andries Strauss born 5 March 1984 in Pretoria, South Africa is a former rugby union player that played as a centre.
The Southern Kings were a South African professional rugby union team that competed in Super Rugby and Pro14. They were based in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province and played their home matches at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. They were created in 2009, and had their first match against the British & Irish Lions during their 2009 tour. After competing in Super Rugby in 2013, 2016 and 2017, they joined Pro14 prior to the 2017–18 season, along with the Cheetahs.
The Super Rugby competition in rugby union, including teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and, in the past, from Argentina, Japan and South Africa, is based on a "franchise" system of teams. The original member countries – Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – all have several regional franchises, while the expansion countries – Argentina, Fiji, Japan and the Pacific Islands – have/had one franchise each. The article covers specific detail as to the areas covered by each Super Rugby team. Bold denotes stadiums that are current primary stadiums for the franchises.
Patrick Jonathan Lambie is a retired South African professional rugby union player who last played for Racing 92 in the French Top 14. He announced his retirement in January 2019 due to multiple concussions.
Siyamthanda "Siya" Kolisi, is a South African professional rugby union player who currently captains the South Africa national team. Having formerly played for the Stormers and Sharks in South Africa, he currently plays for Racing 92 in the French Top 14. He generally plays as a flanker and a loose forward. In 2018, Kolisi was appointed captain of the Springboks, becoming the first black man to hold the position and eventually leading the South African Rugby team to victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final against England.
Hadleigh William Parkes is a New Zealand-born Welsh international rugby union player, whose favoured position is at the centre. He currently plays for the Black Rams Tokyo in the Japan Rugby League One. Parkes also has a successful BBC sport rugby union column.
Steven Kitshoff is a South African professional rugby player who currently plays for Ulster. His playing position is loosehead prop. He represents the South Africa national team and has previously played for Bordeaux in the French Top 14 and Western Province in the Currie Cup. He joined Ulster for the 2023–24 season.
Eben Etzebeth is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and the South Africa national rugby team. He made his international debut for the Springboks in 2012 and has since won more than 100 caps. His regular playing position is as a number 4 lock.
Jonathan "Jono" Ross is a South African rugby union player who currently plays for and captains Premiership Rugby side Sale Sharks. His regular position is blindside flanker but he can also play at number 8.
S'busiso Romeo Nkosi is a South African professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team and the Free State Cheetahs in Currie Cup. His regular position is winger.
Tristan James Blewett was a South African professional rugby union player for the New Orleans Gold in Major League Rugby in the United States. His regular position is centre, but he can also play as a winger or fullback.
Aphiwe Odwa Dyantyi is a South African professional rugby union player recently signed for the Sharks who play in the United Rugby Championship, the EPCR Challenge Cup. His regular position is wing.
Hillegard Muller du Plessis is a South African rugby union player for the Sharks in United Rugby Championship and the Currie Cup. He is former rugby sevens player for the South Africa Sevens team. Having won two World Rugby Sevens Series titles, as well as a Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Mornay Jan Jakobus Smith is a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. His regular position is tighthead prop.
Dylan Thor Richardson is a South African-Scottish international rugby union player. He plays for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship. He is a utility forward that can play as a loose forward or a hooker.
Murray Koster is a South African rugby union player from East London, Eastern Cape. He plays for the Sharks franchise as a centre.
References
- ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Phepsi Buthelezi". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ↑ "Sunwolves 10-45 Sharks". SANZAAR. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ↑ IOL, Phepsi Buthelezi announced as Sharks captain
- ↑ "2017 U19 International Series". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ↑ "2018 U20 World Rugby Championship". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
