Super Rugby Pacific
Super Rugby Pacific is a professional domestic competition featuring the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders and referees from New Zealand.
Super Rugby Pacific is the Southern Hemisphere’s premier provincial rugby competition, bringing together the top teams from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and the Pacific Islands. A joint venture between New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia, the competition showcases fast-paced, high-intensity rugby at its best.
Featuring 11 teams, the season spans 16 rounds of regular play followed by a three-week Finals Series. Each team plays 14 regular-season matches, with derby clashes and iconic rivalries at the heart of the schedule.
With over 80 matches played across legendary venues, fans can expect fierce competition, unforgettable moments, and thrilling matchups. All broadcast live and exclusively through Sky NZ.
The five Super Rugby Pacific teams are part-owned by New Zealand Rugby and when originally set up, were run by boards representing the Provincial Unions that make up each Super Rugby catchment. Reviews into the financial sustainability and structure of Super Rugby and its five clubs identified the need to reinvigorate the franchise model and provide for additional investment to improve its financial sustainability.
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Super Rugby Pacific Teams
New Zealand has five teams playing in Super Rugby Pacific (from north to south):
Expressions of interest for Super Rugby Licences
Expressions of interest were called for in December 2011 for four of the five licences. The Highlanders were not part of the original process, although NZR commenced the process for the Highlanders in 2014.
Super Rugby Licensee responsibilities
A Super Rugby Licensee’s responsibilities include:
- management of the team both on-field and off-field including, the professional development for members of the squad
- marketing promotion of matches and the team
- the Licensee will retain predominantly gate and some sponsorship income and pay administration, additional coaching and management staff, training facilities, match operations, and marketing costs.
New Zealand Rugby will:
- retain ownership of the brands associated with each team
- continue to fund player and coach contracts from centralised broadcasting and sponsorship revenue.
- continue to pay all travel and accommodation costs associated with the regular season (excluding playoffs) through SANZAAR