Super Rugby tourney stretched to limit

THE second staging of the 18team Super Rugby tournament will see the already geographically stretched competition taken even further with new venues hosting matches.

Fiji and Samoa are set to host games this year, featuring teams from New Zealand as the “home” sides.

The Blues will play the Reds in Apia (Samoa) while the Chiefs host the Crusaders in Suva (Fiji). The tournament covers 142 matches in 15 time zones and will be played in eight territories (NZ, SA, Australia, Argentina, Japan, Singapore, Fiji and Samoa).

But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the tournament will be how many yellow and red cards are dished out. World Rugby’s new high tackle protocols – not new laws – demand more severe application of the law by referees on high and dangerous tackles.

The new protocols started in the northern hemisphere in January, which has seen a slew of cards. In European matches since the new policy was introduced on January 3, there have been over 50 yellow cards and 12 red cards.

Super Rugby might see similar numbers, especially in the early stages of the tournament when referees are setting a standard. The tournament starts on a Thursday for the first time in its history when the Rebels host the Blues in an Australasian conference match.

The tournament is again broken down into five different conferences. The eight-team South Africa Group, which includes six existing SA franchises – Bulls, Cheetahs, Lions, Sharks, Southern Kings and Stormers – is split into two conferences.

The Bulls, Stormers, Cheetahs and Sunwolves are in Africa 1 conference. The Cheetahs, Kings, Sharks and Jaguares in Africa 2. The winners of each conference will advance to the quarterfinals, while the thirdplaced team in the combined SA Group log will take the third quarterfinal spot.