Super 14 to return from 2021

In significant news for the future of Super Rugby, SANZAAR have today announced that the competition will return to a 'Super 14' format from 2021 onwards. The competition has experimented with numerous seasons of a 15-team format and even expanded to 18 teams in 2016 and 2017 but will soon revert to the structure that was last used back in 2010.

This change means the Sunwolves will exit Super Rugby with next year's tournament set to be their last. Despite showing considerable improvement this season including a first ever away victory against the Chiefs in Hamilton, SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos revealed that "SANZAAR was advised by the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) in early March that they would no longer be in a position to financially underwrite the Sunwolves future participation post 2020."

The 2010 Super 14 standings (via Wikipedia)

Why the change?

Marinos has stated, “The decision to further consolidate the competition format to a 14-team round robin was not taken lightly. It has involved some detailed analysis and a thorough review of the current and future rugby landscape, tournament costs, commercial and broadcast considerations and player welfare in line with our Strategic Plan.”

“Competition integrity, affordability and a competitive playing environment were further key drivers to ensure that an optimal player development pathway remains in place to feed into international rugby.”

“Factoring in the above analysis and review a 14 or 15-team round robin format were considered, as these models delivered best against the criteria we were seeking, including a format that would see each team playing every other team leading into a finals series".

The new structure

As those of you who are long-term Super Rugby fans will likely remember, the 14-team format will see the removal of the current 'conference system' and will instead mean that all teams play one another in a round robin format.

Each side has 13 matches a season with two bye weeks and the number of home/away matches a team plays will vary from 6 to 7 based on a two-year alternate match schedule.

Following the completion of this round robin, the top six teams will then progress to compete for the title. A new three-week, top six finals series will see the top two on the competition ladder receive a bye in week one before hosting semi-final matches against the winners from a knockout round between the teams ranked three to six.

Opinion

“One of the major concerns Superbru players have had with the recent formats of Super Rugby has been the conference structure and the resulting uneven nature of the fixtures,” says Superbru founder the General. “A return to each team playing every other team directly addresses this issue, so here at HQ we’re feeling pretty positive about this change making for a more compelling tournament.”

We're really interested to know your thoughts on this latest change to Super Rugby. Are you in favour of the decision? Leave your opinion in the comments section below.