About the Competition
The Investec Super 14 Rugby competition kicks off on Friday 15 February 2008. This year sees four teams from Australia (Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, QLD Reds and the Western Force), five teams from South Africa and five teams from New Zealand.
Super 12 commenced in 1996, with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa forming SANZAR (South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) to administer an annual provincial 12 team competition and Tri-Nations Test Series between the three countries. Impetus for forming a Tri Nations alliance started in Australia and New Zealand, following the establishment of Super League and the huge player salaries on offer. Worried that Rugby Union players would be tempted to switch codes and that Rugby Union would suffer as a consequence, the unions of the three countries signed a multi million-dollar deal with Rupert Mordoch's News Corporation. This gave News Corp exclusive television rights to the competition for ten years.
The emphasis in Super 12 and now Super 14 is on strong, attacking rugby with bonus points given to any team scoring four tries or more in a game.
The Crusaders were the most successful Super 12 team, winning six times throughout the ten year competition.
The ACT Brumbies played in four Super 12 Finals (1997, 2000, 2001 & 2004), winning the title in 2001 and 2004. The NSW Waratahs made their first decider in 2005, but were beaten by the Crusaders.
Super 12-14 Results
| Year | Winner | | 1996 | Blues (NZ) | | 1997 | Blues (NZ) | | 1998 | Crusaders (NZ) | | 1999 | Crusaders (NZ) | | 2000 | Crusaders (NZ) | | 2001 | Brumbies (AUS) | | 2002 | Crusaders (NZ) | | 2003 | Blues (NZ) | | 2004 | Brumbies (AUS) | | 2005 | Crusaders (NZ) | | 2006 | Crusaders (NZ) | | 2007 | Bulls (SA) |
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More information
Australia
New Zealand
South Africa
