2021 Super Rugby season explained

2021 Super Rugby season
Countries: Australia (5 teams)
New Zealand (5 teams)
Tournament Format:Two regionalised round-robin tournaments followed by a
crossover competition
Website:Official site
Previous Year:2020
Previous Tournament:2020 Super Rugby season
Next Year:2022
Next Tournament:2022 Super Rugby Pacific season

The 2021 Super Rugby season was the 26th season of Super Rugby, an annual men's international rugby union tournament organised by SANZAAR, involving teams from Australia and New Zealand. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the tournament was wholly regionalised, with the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season and the 2021 Super Rugby AU season replacing the previous 15 side format used from 2018 till 2020. Super Rugby Trans-Tasman followed these tournaments, a crossover competition that featured the five Australian sides playing the five New Zealand sides.

Competition format

The five New Zealand sides competed in the 2nd Super Rugby Aotearoa season,[1] while the four Australian sides, plus the addition again of the Western Force, competed in the 2nd Super Rugby AU season.[2] The competition did not feature any South African sides who announced their withdrawal from Super Rugby in September 2020,[3] while the Japanese side, the Sunwolves, was confirmed as leaving the league in March 2019.[4] The Argentinian side, the Jaguares, were also not named in any competition and did not compete in 2021. Following the draw for the 2021 Super Rugby AU season, Rugby Australia confirmed they were working with New Zealand Rugby on a trans-Tasman competition to follow the Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU seasons.[2] On 13 November, this tournament was confirmed as Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, which featured the Australian and New Zealand sides playing each other in 25 crossover matches before a final. All sides played two home matches, and two away matches as well as a 'Super Round' where all matches will be played in one location over the course of one weekend. The final was then held between the top two teams in the combined competition table.[5] [6]

Law variations

Both Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa saw law changes again for 2021. Super Rugby AU saw changes to kick-offs and restarts, with a free kick awarded if a kickoff has not taken place 30 seconds following the opposition scoring, a restart is kicked out on the full or if teammates of the kicker are not behind the ball. The free kick will take place at half way. These rules are similar to those that are currently used in Rugby sevens. Also the 'Golden point' law brought in during the 2020 season is tweaked so that full-time will only occur after a try is scored, rather than any form of points. Penalties and drop goals will still count towards the score during extra time, but will not end the game, with play only ending if a try is scored or the 10-minute extra time period ends.

Super Rugby Aotearoa saw the introduction of Goal-line drop outs, brought in for when an attacking player is held up or knocks the ball on in goal. When a kick is forced in goal by the defending team then a goal-line drop out will also take place. These rules were used successfully in the Australian 2020 Super Rugby AU season. Extra time was also used again in 2021, again consisting of a 10-minute period, however differing from the 2021 Super Rugby AU season, the team scoring the first points of any kind in this period will win the match. A captain's referral was also brought in for 2021, similar to those used successfully in cricket and tennis, with New Zealand Rugby becoming the first to trial it in rugby union. Each team is allowed one referral per match which can be used in one of three scenarios: a decision occurring in the final five minutes of a match, an offence in the build up to a try being scored or an act of foul play. All other law variations from the 2020 season were again used in both Super Rugby competitions in the 2021 season.[7]

Future developments

In the longer term, a new 12-team tournament from 2022 onwards was mooted, with the current four Australian and five New Zealand sides, plus the full time return of the Australian side the Western Force to Super Rugby, following their departure from the competition at the end of the 2017 Super Rugby season. It was suggested they be joined in the competition by teams from the Pacific Islands and Fiji, with South African sides having confirmed their departure from Super Rugby to join an expanded Pro14 competition, and no place for the Argentinian Jaguares either.[8] On 13 November, New Zealand Rugby confirmed Fiji Rugby and Moana Pasifika as its preferred partners for Super Rugby going forward.[9] A Hawaiian side had been mooted to join the competition, with Kanaloa Pasifika having gone through the process to try and join the competition, however they were not selected by New Zealand Rugby. Kanaloa Pasifika launched legal action over this decision, stating that Moana Pasifika had not gone through the correct process to join the competition.[10]

On 24 February 2021, the Fiji Rugby Union announced it had completed its business plan for the entry of Fijian Drua to Super Rugby in 2022 and submitted it to the New Zealand Rugby Union. The plan outlines financial targets, initial playing squad and coaching structure as well as outlining the complete administrative structures for the team. The team will be a separate entity from the Fijian Rugby Union, similar to that of the Drua's entry into the Australian National Rugby Championship in 2017. The team is still required to meet stringent financial conditions set by the New Zealand Rugby Union, and so was seeking NZ$10 million in private investment to allow the team to join in 2022.[11] Further steps were announced on both sides joining the competition in March 2021, with New Zealand Rugby Union agreeing to a sharing of broadcasting revenue with both potential sides. On 24 March 2021, World Rugby announced financial, high performance and administrative support for both potential new franchises, in order to boost the performances of Pacific Islands at international level, while also being able to stay local instead of heading overseas.[12]

On 14 April 2021, both the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika were granted conditional licenses to join Super Rugby in 2022 by the New Zealand Rugby Union. They will join the existing five New Zealand Super Rugby sides, plus the existing four Australian sides along with the Western Force who will return to the competition full-time having taken part in both editions of Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.[13]

On 12 July 2021, Moana Pasifika were granted an unconditional licence, confirming them for the 2022 Super Rugby season.[14]

Players

Squads

The following 2021 Super Rugby squads have been named. Players listed in italics denote non-original squad members.

squad[15]
ForwardsLeni ApisaiAdrian ChoatGerard Cowley-TuiotiSam DarryKurt EklundBlake GibsonJosh GoodhueAlex HodgmanDillon HuntAkira IoaneNepo LaulalaJames LayRay NiuiaDalton PapaliiJacob PierceTaine PlumtreeMarcel RenataTom RobinsonHoskins SotutuLuteru TolaiKarl Tu'inukuafePatrick TuipulotuOfa Tu'ungafasiSoane Vikena
BacksOtere BlackFinlay ChristieCaleb ClarkeTJ FaianeBryce HeemRieko IoaneAJ LamJone Macilai-ToriEmoni NarawaSam NockStephen PerofetaHarry PlummerJacob Ratumaitavuki-KneepkensJonathan RuruZarn SullivanMark Tele'aTanielu Teleʻa
CoachLeon MacDonald
squad[16]
ForwardsAllan AlaalatoaJahrome BrownTom CusackFolau Fainga'aNick FrostArcher HolzTom HooperFred KaiheaSefo KautaiHarry LloydLachlan LonerganConnal McInerneyWill MillerCadeyrn NevilleBilly PollardLuke ReimerTom RossPete SamuRory ScottScott SioJames SlipperHenry StowersDarcy SwainJames TuckerRob Valetini
BacksLachlan AlbertTom BanksIssak FinesMack HansenLen IkitauSolomone KataBayley KuenzleNoah LolesioRyan LonerganAndy MuirheadReesjan PasitoaIrae Simone • Reece Tapine • Nic WhiteTom Wright
CoachDan McKellar
squad[17]
Forwards
BacksBryn GatlandAnton Lienert-BrownJonah LoweDamian McKenzieEtene Nanai-SeturoAlex NankivellRameka PoihipiRivez ReihanaXavier RoeShaun StevensonBailyn SullivanTe Toiroa TahuriorangiChase TiatiaKaleb TraskQuinn TupaeaSean WainuiBrad WeberGideon Wrampling
CoachClayton McMillan
squad[18]
ForwardsMichael AlaalatoaLiam AllenScott BarrettEthan BlackadderGeorge BowerTom ChristieWhetu DouglasMitchell DunsheaCullen GraceSione HaviliOliver JagerQuentin MacDonaldAndrew MakalioBrodie McAlisterJoe MoodyFletcher NewellBrendon O'ConnorLuke RomanoTom SandersQuinten StrangeCodie TaylorIsi Tu'ungafasiNathan VellaSam WhitelockTamaiti Williams
BacksGeorge BridgeFergus BurkeBrett CameronMitchell DrummondEre EnariBraydon EnnorLeicester Fainga'anukuChay FihakiJack GoodhueBryn HallDavid HaviliWill JordanManasa MataeleJosh McKayDallas McLeodRichie Mo'ungaIsaiah PunivaiRene RangerSevu Reece
CoachScott Robertson
squad[19]
ForwardsBo AbraTim AnsteeOllie Callan • Victor Harris • Chris HeibergGreg HolmesFeleti Kaitu'uKane KotekaFergus Lee-WarnerTomás LezanaKieran LongbottomRyan McCauleySantiago Medrano • Jackson Pugh • Andrew ReadyTom RobertsonBrynard StanderJeremy ThrushSitaleki TimaniAngus WagnerJack Winchester
BacksMarcel BracheTomás CubelliKyle GodwinRichard KahuiRob KearneyTevita KuridraniBrad LaceyJono LanceGrason MakaraMichael McDonaldJack McGregorJake McIntyreDomingo MiottiJordan OlowofelaJonah PlacidIan PriorToni PuluByron RalstonJake StrachanHenry Taefu
CoachTim Sampson
squad[20]
ForwardsJermaine AinsleyTeariki Ben-NicholasLiam ColtmanEthan de GrootJosh DicksonAsh DixonBryn EvansShannon FrizellBilly HarmonKazuki HimenoJosh HohneckRicky JacksonAyden JohnstoneJames LentjesDaniel Lienert-BrownMarino Mikaele-Tu'uSione MisiloiPari Pari ParkinsonJack ReganHugh RentonManaaki Selby-RickitLiam SquireJeff ThwaitesSiate Tokolahi
BacksSolomon AlaimaloJames ArscottMichael CollinsFolau FakatavaConnor Garden-BachopSam GilbertScott GregoryKayne HammingtonMitchell HuntJosh IoaneVilimoni KoroiCaleb MakeneNehe Milner-SkudderJosh MoorbyJona NarekiTim O'MalleyFetuli PaeaNgane PunivaiAaron SmithJosh TimuSio TomkinsonThomas Umaga-JensenFreedom Vahaakolo
CoachTony BrownClarke Dermody
squad[21]
ForwardsFraser ArmstrongAsafo AumuaJames BlackwellDane ColesGareth EvansAlex FidowVaea FifitaDevan FlandersBrayden IoseDu'Plessis KirifiKane Le'aupepeTyrel LomaxTevita MafileoLiam MitchellXavier NumiaJames O'ReillyReed PrinsepPouri Rakete-StonesRicky RiccitelliArdie SaveaScott ScraftonIsaia Walker-Leawere
Backs
CoachJason Holland
squad[22]
ForwardsAlbert AnaeIgnacio CalasEd CraigSteve CumminsCabous EloffPone Fa'amausiliMatt GibbonJames HansonRichard HardwickRoss Haylett-PettyTrevor HoseaMichael IcelyIsaac Aedo KaileaJosh KemenyRob LeotaIsi NaisaraniTom NowlanCameron OrrJeral SkeltonLucio SordoniJordan UeleseRhys van NekMichael WellsBrad Wilkin
BacksLachie AndersonCarter GordonDane Haylett-PettyReece HodgeLewis HollandStacey IliAndrew KellawayMarika KoroibeteFrank LomaniCampbell MagnayTom PincusJoe PowellTheo StrangMatt To'omuaJames TuttleGlen VaihuIlikena VudogoYoung TonumaipeaGeorge Worth
CoachKevin FooteDavid Wessels
squad[23]
ForwardsRichie AsiataAngus BlythMatt FaesslerFeao FotuaikaBen GrantHarry HoopertAlex MafiFraser McReightJosh NasserZane NonggorrBrandon Paenga-AmosaLukhan Salakaia-LotoAngus Scott-YoungRyan SmithTuaina Taii TualimaTaniela TupouSeru UruSam WallisHarry WilsonLiam WrightDane Zander
BacksJock CampbellHudson CreightonLawson CreightonFilipo DaugunuIlaisa DroaseseJosh FlookMac GrealyBryce HegartyIsaac HenryTate McDermottJames O'ConnorHunter PaisamiJordan PetaiaMoses SoroviHamish StewartKalani ThomasSuliasi Vunivalu
CoachBrad Thorn
squad[24]
ForwardsRobbie AbelAngus BellDarcy BreenSam CairdJoe CottonPekahou CowanJack DempseyMax DouglasTetera FaulknerVunipola FifitaGeorge FrancisCharlie GambleWill HarrisTom HortonHarry Johnson-HolmesDave PoreckiHugh SinclairLachlan SwintonChris Talakai • Alefosio Tatola • Tiaan TauakipuluCarlo TizzanoAndrew TualaRahboni Warren-VosayacoJack WhettonJeremy WilliamsMichael WoodSam Wykes
Backs
CoachJason GilmoreRob PenneyChris Whitaker

Referees

The following referees were selected to officiate the 2021 Super Rugby season:[25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43]

2021 Super Rugby referees
AustraliaNic BerryGraham CooperAngus GardnerDamon MurphyAmy PerrettJordan Way
New ZealandJames DolemanMike FraserBen O'KeeffeBrendon PickerillPaul Williams

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa draw announced. Super Rugby NZ. 10 November 2020. 10 November 2020.
  2. News: Revealed: Rugby Australia announce 2021 Super Rugby AU draw. Rugby.com.au. 11 November 2020. 11 November 2020.
  3. News: SARU members vote to seek northern hemisphere future. SA Rugby. 29 September 2020. 11 November 2020.
  4. News: Sunwolves axed from Super Rugby after 2020 season . Rugby World . 22 March 2019 . 15 March 2020.
  5. News: 2021 set for thrilling Trans-Tasman crossover. Rugby.com.au. 13 November 2020. 13 November 2020.
  6. News: 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman schedule confirmed. SANZAAR. 14 December 2020. 14 December 2020.
  7. News: Super Rugby Innovative Law Variations to continue. SANZAAR. 10 February 2021. 10 February 2021.
  8. News: Reports: Super Rugby set for 12 from 2022. SA Rugby Magazine. 4 November 2020. 11 November 2020.
  9. News: New Zealand Rugby confirms Fiji Rugby & Moana Pasifika as preferred partners. New Zealand Rugby. 13 November 2020. 13 November 2020.
  10. News: Kanaloa Pasifika start legal action against New Zealand Rugby over Super snub. Stuff.co.nz. 13 November 2020. 13 November 2020.
  11. Fiji Rugby seeking private investment to support new Super Rugby team . Fiji Rugby Union . 24 February 2021 . 24 February 2021.
  12. News: World Rugby to support Pacific Islands Super Rugby ambitions. World Rugby. 24 March 2021. 24 March 2021.
  13. News: Next steps in Pacific Island professional teams journey confirmed by NZ Rugby. All Blacks. 14 April 2021. 14 April 2021.
  14. News: Moana Pasifika granted unconditional licence. Super Rugby NZ. 12 July 2021. 12 July 2021.
  15. 2021 Squad Named . Blues . 3 December 2020 . 3 December 2020 . 3 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201203012438/https://blues.rugby/2021-squad-named/ . dead .
  16. Plus500 Brumbies Finalise 2020 Super Rugby Squad . Brumbies . 6 January 2021 . 6 January 2021.
  17. 2021 Gallagher Chiefs Squad Announced . Chiefs . 3 December 2020 . 3 December 2020.
  18. Four players promoted from Crusaders Academy as Scott Robertson names 2021 Crusaders squad . Crusaders . 3 December 2020 . 3 December 2020 . 3 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201203002937/http://www.crusaders.co.nz/news/1495-four-players-promoted-from-crusaders-academy-as-scott-robertson-names-2021-crusaders-squad . dead .
  19. Web site: 2021 Team . Western Force . 15 February 2021.
  20. Highlanders name squad for 2021 . Highlanders . 3 December 2020 . 3 December 2020.
  21. Hurricanes 2021 squad announced . Hurricanes . 3 December 2020 . 3 December 2020.
  22. 1361213027656163328 . MelbourneRebels . Your 2021 Melbourne Rebels squad is here! With a few new faces, plus everyone’s favourites, there’s plenty to LOVE about this year’s squad! Comment below who you’re most excited to see play in the mighty red & blue this season! . 15 February 2021 . 15 February 2021.
  23. 2021 Queensland Reds Squad announced . Queensland Reds . 18 January 2021 . 18 January 2021.
  24. NSW Waratahs confirm full roster ahead of Super Rugby AU . NSW Waratahs . 13 January 2021 . 13 January 2021.
  25. News: 2021 Super Rugby AU Match Officials Confirmed . Rugby.com.au . 18 February 2021 . 18 February 2021.
  26. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Referee appointments round 1 . Super Rugby NZ . 22 February 2021 . 22 February 2021.
  27. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Referee appointments round 2 . Super Rugby NZ . 1 March 2021 . 1 March 2021.
  28. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Specsavers referee appointments round 3 . Super Rugby NZ . 8 March 2021 . 8 March 2021.
  29. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Specsavers referee appointments round 4 . Super Rugby NZ . 16 March 2021 . 16 March 2021.
  30. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Specsavers referee appointments round 5 . Super Rugby NZ . 22 March 2021 . 22 March 2021.
  31. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Specsavers referee appointments round 6 . Super Rugby NZ . 30 March 2021 . 30 March 2021.
  32. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Specsavers referee appointments round 7 . Super Rugby NZ . 7 April 2021 . 7 April 2021.
  33. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Specasavers referee appointments round 8 . Super Rugby NZ . 13 April 2021 . 13 April 2021.
  34. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Specsavers referee appointments round 9 . Super Rugby NZ . 19 April 2021 . 19 April 2021.
  35. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Specsavers referee appointments round 10 . Super Rugby NZ . 28 April 2021 . 28 April 2021.
  36. News: Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Specsavers referee appointments final . Super Rugby NZ . 4 May 2021 . 4 May 2021.
  37. News: Nic Berry to take charge in Trans-Tasman opener milestone . Rugby.com.au . 12 May 2021 . 12 May 2021.
  38. News: Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman: Referee appointments round 1 . Super Rugby NZ . 12 May 2021 . 12 May 2021.
  39. News: Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman: Referee appointments round 2 . Super Rugby NZ . 18 May 2021 . 18 May 2021.
  40. News: Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman: Referee appointments round 3 . Super Rugby NZ . 25 May 2021 . 25 May 2021.
  41. News: Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman: Referee appointments round 4 . Super Rugby NZ . 1 June 2021 . 1 June 2021.
  42. News: Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman: Referee appointments round 5 . Super Rugby NZ . 8 June 2021 . 8 June 2021.
  43. News: Super Rugby Trans Tasman Final Match Officials . Super XV . 16 June 2021 . 17 June 2021.