Highlanders set for Super final rematch
Super Rugby fans will not have to wait long for a rematch of the 2015 final when the new season kicks off in February.
The draw for the competition was released yesterday, with the Highlanders to host the Hurricanes in round two – one of two round robin games between the two sides next year.
That follows on from a bumper opening night on February 26, when three of last year’s four semifinalists square off – last year’s winners the Highlanders begin their title defence against the Blues in Auckland, before the Brumbies host the beaten finalists Hurricanes.
Japan will host its first Super Rugby match on the opening weekend, as the Lions travel to Tokyo.
The new Argentinian team starts its maiden Super Rugby campaign in Bloemfontein against the Cheetahs.
Argentina will have to wait until round four to host its first match, with the Chiefs travelling to the South American country, although a venue is still to be confirmed.
The Australasian group features separate Australian and New Zealand Conferences each comprising their existing five teams, while the South African group contains two conferences with the Bulls, Cheetahs, Stormers and the Japanese team on one side and the Kings, Lions, Sharks and the Argentinian team on the other. Teams will play 15 matches, six within their own conference, five against an Australasian conference opponent and four against a South African conference team, with two byes across the 17-week regular season.
The playoffs will feature eight Round one on February 26, with three of last season’s four semifinalists meeting. The new Japanese team will play its first game against the Lions on February 27 in Tokyo. Round two will see a rematch of the 2016 final, as the Highlanders host the Hurricanes. Singapore National Stadium will host matches between the Japanesebased team and the Cheetahs (round 3), Bulls (round 5) and Stormers (round 12). The Highlanders will keep the trophy from their 2015 win, with a new chrome and gold plated trophy to feature for the 2016 edition. The identity of the Argentinian and Japanese-based sides will be formally unveiled in the coming months. teams: the four conference winners plus the three next highest-ranked teams from the Australasian group and the next highest-ranked team from the South African group. They will be straight quarterfinals, with the conference winners seeded 1-4 based upon overall points from the regular season and the highest-ranked team will play at home in each match-up.
Sanzar interim chief executive Brendan Morris said Super Rugby was on the cusp of a new era.
‘‘We are in the envious position to be delivering our great brand of rugby to new cities and international markets, unlocking a host of commercial opportunities and delivering the unbridled excitement of Super Rugby to a legion of new and existing fans.’’ have prepared a video to help explain things.