2020 Super Rugby season

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.

2020 Super Rugby season
Countries Argentina (1 team)
 Australia (4 teams)
 Japan (1 team)
 New Zealand (5 teams)
 South Africa (4 teams)
Tournament format(s)Conference and knockout
ChampionsSeason cancelled
Matches played46
Tries scored319 (6.93 per match)
Top point scorer(s) Curwin Bosch, Sharks (86)
Top try scorer(s) Andrew Kellaway, Rebels (7)
Official websiteOfficial site
2019 (Previous) (Next) 2021

On 14 March 2020, it was announced that play would be suspended after the conclusion of the weekend's fixtures, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a travel restriction that was announced by New Zealand earlier in the day. Replacement regional tournaments would take place thereafter, beginning in June in New Zealand, July in Australia and October in South Africa.

Competition format

15 teams will partake in the 2020 edition of Super Rugby. They are split into three different 'conferences': the Australian Conference (consisting of four Australian teams and the Japanese Sunwolves), the New Zealand Conference (consisting of five New Zealand teams), and the South African Conference (consisting of four South African teams and the Jaguares from Argentina).[1]

The group stages consist of 18 rounds of matches spanning from 31 January 2020 until the beginning of June. Teams play 16 matches each across these 18 rounds with two bye weeks built into each of their schedules. Teams play each of their conference rivals home and away and then another eight matches against non-conference teams either home or away, but will play against a minimum of four of the teams in the other conferences.

The winner of each conference qualifies for the Super Rugby finals, along with the next five best teams from all the conferences. The winners of each conference and the best placed team host the quarterfinals. The winners of the quarterfinals then progress to the semifinals, and the winners of the semifinals to the final. The hosts of the semifinals and finals are determined on the team which has the best record from the regular season.[1]

COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, two Sunwolves matches were moved to Australia from Japan. It was announced 12 March that although fans would still be admitted for that weekend's fixtures, future rounds held in Australia were to be played behind closed doors. On 14 March, New Zealand announced that all travellers entering the country from outside of the Pacific Islands would be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival; as this would make play logistically difficult, SANZAAR announced that the season would be suspended indefinitely following the completion of the seventh round of fixtures.[2][3][4][5]

Following the suspension, SANZAAR and regional rugby boards proposed regional tournaments to replace the Super Rugby fixtures that were cancelled. On 6 May, New Zealand Rugby announced that a Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, involving the five New Zealand teams, would begin on 13 June. The competition will be contested using a double round robin format, with 20 matches played over 10 weeks. On 27 May, Rugby Australia confirmed Super Rugby AU would begin on 3 July, involving the four Australian sides in the Australian conference and the Western Force, who played in Super Rugby until the 2017 season. The Sunwolves were also in discussions to take part in the Australian competition, but due to travel restrictions were unable to do so. Following this, the club was disbanded on 1 June, with the side having been due to leave Super Rugby at the end of the original 2020 season.[6]

On 16 September, SA Rugby announced a 7 team competition between the four South African Super Rugby sides, plus the Cheetahs from Pro14, and the Griquas and Pumas from the Currie Cup, starting on 10 October.[7] On 18 September, the official details of the Super Rugby Unlocked tournament was announced, with the 7 teams playing each other in a round robin format over the course of 7 weeks, with the domestic Currie Cup competition continuing thereafter.[8]

Standings

The current standings for the 2020 Super Rugby season are:

2020 Super Rugby standings
Overall standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Sharks7601213153+6025190024
2 Brumbies6501208115+9331152123
3 Crusaders6501189105+8426153023
4 Blues7502192134+5825172022
5 Chiefs6402194128+6627182119
6 Hurricanes6402168135+3322171017
7 Stormers640211894+2416101017
8 Jaguares7313169135+3423162117
9 Rebels6303166160+623221013
10 Reds7205219176+4332252313
11 Highlanders611491163–721123017
12 Bulls6105115152–371420116
13 Lions6105109200–911427015
14 Waratahs6105104214–1101531105
15 Sunwolves6105101292–1911545004
Australian Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Brumbies5401161101+6031151118
2 Rebels6303166160+623221013
3 Reds7205219176+4632252313
4 Waratahs510490167–771530105
5 Sunwolves510487243–1561545004
New Zealand Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Crusaders6501189105+8426153023
2 Blues7502192134+5825172022
3 Chiefs6402194128+6627182119
4 Hurricanes6402168135+3322171017
5 Highlanders611491163–721123017
South African Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Sharks6501189139+5025190020
2 Stormers540110470+3416101017
3 Jaguares7313169135+3423162117
4 Bulls6105115152–371420116
5 Lions6105109200–911427015

Round-by-round

The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets:

Team Progression – Australian Conference
Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 QF SF Final
Brumbies 4
(7th)
8
(3rd)
9
(3rd)
13
(3rd)
13
(3rd)
18
(3rd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
23
(2nd)
N/A N/A N/A
Rebels 0
(12th)
0
(13th)
4
(10th)
4
(11th)
8
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
13
(9th)
N/A N/A N/A
Reds 1
(8th)
2
(11th)
2
(13th)
7
(9th)
7
(10th)
8
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
13
(10th)
N/A N/A N/A
Sunwolves 4
(3rd)
4
(8th)
4
(11th)
4
(13th)
4
(14th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
4
(15th)
N/A N/A N/A
Waratahs 0
(13th)
0
(15th)
0
(15th)
0
(15th)
5
(12th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
5
(14th)
N/A N/A N/A
Team Progression – New Zealand Conference
Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 QF SF Final
Blues 0
(10th)
5
(6th)
5
(8th)
9
(7th)
13
(8th)
17
(6th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
22
(4th)
N/A N/A N/A
Chiefs 4
(6th)
8
(2nd)
13
(1st)
13
(4th)
13
(7th)
18
(2nd)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
19
(5th)
N/A N/A N/A
Crusaders 5
(2nd)
5
(7th)
9
(5th)
14
(2nd)
14
(2nd)
18
(4th)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
23
(3rd)
N/A N/A N/A
Highlanders 0
(9th)
0
(14th)
4
(12th)
4
(12th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
7
(11th)
N/A N/A N/A
Hurricanes 0
(14th)
4
(10th)
8
(7th)
8
(8th)
13
(6th)
13
(8th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
17
(6th)
N/A N/A N/A
Team Progression – South African Conference
Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 QF SF Final
Bulls 0
(11th)
0
(12th)
0
(14th)
1
(14th)
1
(15th)
6
(11th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
6
(12th)
N/A N/A N/A
Jaguares 5
(1st)
6
(5th)
10
(4th)
10
(6th)
15
(5th)
15
(7th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
17
(8th)
N/A N/A N/A
Lions 0
(15th)
4
(9th)
5
(9th)
5
(10th)
5
(11th)
5
(12th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
5
(13th)
N/A N/A N/A
Sharks 4
(5th)
8
(4th)
8
(6th)
12
(5th)
16
(4th)
20
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
24
(1st)
N/A N/A N/A
Stormers 5
(4th)
9
(1st)
13
(2nd)
17
(1st)
17
(1st)
17
(5th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
17
(7th)
N/A N/A N/A
Key: Win Draw Loss Bye Cancelled Postponed

Matches

The fixtures for the 2020 Super Rugby competition were released on 10 September 2019.[10][11]

Home \ Away BLU BRU BUL CHI CRU HIG HUR JAG LIO REB RED SHA STO SUN WAR
Blues Cancelled 29–37 8–25 Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled 43–10 Cancelled
Brumbies 22–23 Cancelled Cancelled 39–26 27–24 Cancelled 47–14 47–14
Bulls 21–23 Cancelled 38–13 24–39 Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled
Chiefs Cancelled 14–26 Cancelled 25–15 Cancelled 24–27 Cancelled Cancelled
Crusaders Cancelled Cancelled 33–13 Cancelled Cancelled 24–20 Cancelled 49–14 43–25
Highlanders Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled 22–28 20–42 Cancelled
Hurricanes 15–24 Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled 38–22 62–15 Cancelled
Jaguares Cancelled 0–0 can. 23–26 38–8 Cancelled 43–27 Cancelled Cancelled
Lions Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled 27–20 Cancelled 30–33 Cancelled
Rebels Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled 37–17 Cancelled 24–36 Cancelled 24–10
Reds Cancelled 41–17 Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled 23–33 64–5 Cancelled
Sharks Cancelled 23–15 Cancelled Cancelled 33–19 Cancelled 24–14 Cancelled
Stormers 14–33 13–0 27–0 17–7 Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled
Sunwolves Cancelled 17–43 Cancelled 36–27 Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled
Waratahs 12–32 Cancelled Cancelled 14–51 29–17 Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled
First match(es) will be played on 31 January 2020. Source: https://sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/fixtures/
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Players

Squads

The following 2020 Super Rugby squads have been named:

Top scorers

The top ten try and point scorers during the 2020 Super Rugby season are:[28]

Referees

The following refereeing panel was appointed by SANZAAR for the 2020 Super Rugby season:[29]

References

  1. "Sanzaar confirm Super 15 tournament from 2018". SuperXV. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  2. Decent, Tom (14 March 2020). "All Super Rugby matches to be cancelled after Sunday's fixtures". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  3. "Super Rugby season on verge of shutdown after NZ restrictions". Fox Sports. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  4. "Coronavirus: How rugby has been affected around the world". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  5. "LOCKOUT: Coronavirus forces rugby behind closed doors next week but fans welcome at weekend". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  6. "Sunwolves confirm time in Super Rugby is over". www.rte.ie. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  7. "Springbok Showdown to kickstart South Africa's domestic rugby season". ESPN. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  8. "Two trophies up for grabs when local rugby season resumes". SA Rugby. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  9. "About Super Rugby". SANZAAR. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  10. "SUPER RUGBY: June break out, January start and earlier kickoffs - 2020 Super Rugby fixtures revealed" (Press release). Rugby.com.au. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  11. "2020 Super Rugby Draw - Final" (PDF). Highlanders Rugby. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  12. "Hard work edict for Blues 2020 squad" (Press release). Blues. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  13. "Plus500 Brumbies Finalise 2020 Super Rugby Squad" (Press release). Brumbies. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  14. "Vodacom Bulls announce exciting squad for Vodacom Super Rugby" (Press release). Bulls. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  15. "2020 Gallagher Chiefs Squad Announced" (Press release). Chiefs. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  16. "Crusaders announce new-look 2020 Investec Super Rugby squad" (Press release). Crusaders. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  17. "Highlanders Reveal Refreshed Squad for 2020" (Press release). Highlanders. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  18. "Hurricanes unveil 2020 roster" (Press release). Hurricanes. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  19. "Jaguares comienza la pretemporada" (Press release) (in Spanish). Jaguares. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  20. "Lions Rugby Vodacom Super Rugby squad". Lions. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  21. "Melbourne Rebels unveil full 2020 playing squad" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  22. "St. George Queensland Reds confirm 2020 squad" (Press release). Queensland Reds. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  23. "Cell C Sharks Captain and Squad Announcement" (Press release). Sharks. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  24. "DHL Stormers 2020 Squad Announced" (Press release). Stormers. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  25. "2020Squad". Sunwolves. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  26. "NSW Waratahs Squad". NSW Waratahs. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  27. "NSW Waratahs add more names to their Elite Development Squad" (Press release). NSW Waratahs. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  28. "Super Rugby Stats". SANZAAR. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  29. "2020 Super Rugby Referee Team & Law Trials" (Press release). SANZAAR. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
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