Super Rugby, also known as Super 15, is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere. Teams from Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand compete in this annual domestic league competition and produces the top players and teams. Get in the Gear of the Super Rugby teams at the World Rugby Shop.
Talking about refereeing ahead of the Super Rugby season, Lyndon Bray, the former Test referee who is now SANZAR's referee boss, spoke of the high standards set for referees.
The Western Force may be without veteran fullback Cameron Shepherd, but they will still field eight internationals in their run-on side that will face a very inexperienced Brumbies outfit to Canberra on Friday.
New Brumbies head coach Jake White has named six debutants in the team to take on the Western Force in his first Super Rugby match, at the Canberra Stadium on Friday.
Sharks coach John Plumtree will forge ahead with his plan to turn World Cup-winning Springbok wing JP Pietersen into a world class outside centre.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee named a powerful team for the opening match of the season, against the Hurricanes at Newlands on Saturday.
Michael Hobbs has edged out All Black star Piri Weepu and young gun Gareth Anscombe to start at flyhalf for the Blues in their season opener against the Crusaders at Eden Park on Friday.
All Black star Kieran Read will lead the Crusaders when the seven-time champions start their 2012 Super Rugby campaign against the Blues in Auckland on Friday.
Queensland Reds playmaker Mike Harris will take the reigns at flyhalf on Saturday when the Reds meet fierce rivals the Waratahs in Round One of the Super Rugby competition.
The Cheetahs opted for the experience of Tewis de Bruyn in the crucial No.9 position ahead of their Super Rugby season opener against the Lions on Saturday.
SANZAR boss Greg Peters is not concerned about the prospect of one of the South African Super Rugby franchises being relegated next year as the top players will still feature no matter which teams are involved.
Sharks coach John Plumtree believes the new era of Sharks rugby starts this weekend under new skipper Keegan Daniel with a batch of fresh faces following him into battle.
SANZAR will use the Super Rugby competition this year to trial a new judicial system which will include white cards for referee referrals, off-field yellow cards, and a streamlined hearing process.
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