About the Super 14
Quick Links
How the bonus point system works - HERE
Past Results - HERE
How the Semi-Final and Final venues are determined -
HERE
Click HERE to see
where the teams are from.
If you are from the Northern hemisphere or Europe in
particular you have probably heard of the Heineken Cup. The Super
14 is very much the same just that it is the Southern Hemisphere equivalent.
Where are the teams from?
Click on the name of the team that you are interested in at the very
top of the page and then look for the (Team Name) History link which
will take you to a page with detail on where the team is from and
their history.
To see how the Bonus point system works and how the
semi finalists are determined click HERE.
This means that the Super 14 is the largest provincial
rugby union tournament championship in the southern hemisphere, consisting
of provincial teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
There are fourteen provincial teams that compete against
one another. Unlike the Heineken Cup there are no divisions or pools.
Each team plays 13 games during the regular season which runs for
fourteen and a 1/2 weeks.
The best four teams, finishing in the top four places
on the competition ladder after the regular season, enter the finals
leg of the tournament. The semi-finals are contested to decide the
two finalists, which is played at the highest ranked winners' home
ground, as opposed to a pre-selected neutral venue.
The tournament is unique in that it is played across many time zones
and often matches are played when visiting teams supporters are asleep.
History
The Super 14 as we now know it is an exapnded version of the Super
12 which started in 1996. For the 2006 season the tournament was expanded
from 12 teams to 14 teams. The tournament is now broadcasted in 41
countries.
Teams
The Super 14 is currently contested by fourteen (14) teams. In this
site you can visit each teams section by clicking on the name of the
team below. The teams are as follows alphabetically.
Blues Brumbies
Bulls Cheetahs
Chiefs Crusaders
Force
Highlanders Hurricanes
Lions Reds Sharks
Stormers Waratahs
There is another team from South Africa that is planning to join
the Super 14 when another team from South Africa drops out and this
teams is currently known as the Southern
Spears.
For past results please click HERE.
Naming rights sponsors
As the tournament is held in three countries eachg country sells
off the naming rights for the tournament.
Australia
In Australia, the Investec Bank has the naming rights and the competition
is referred to as the Investec Super 14. It was known as the Tooheys
New Super 14 during 2006.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, sporting goods retailer Rebel Sport has the naming
rights and the competition is referred to as the Rebel Sport Super
14.
South Africa
In South Africa the cellular telecommunications company Vodacom has
the naming rights and the competition is referred to in South Africa
as the Vodacom Super 14.