Super 12 History

Super 12 Rugby commenced in 1996, with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa forming SANZAR (South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) to administer an annual provincial 12 team competition and Tri-Nations Test Series between the three countries.

The impetus for forming a Tri Nations alliance started in Australia and New Zealand, following the establishment of Super League and the huge player salaries on offer. Worried that Rugby Union players would be tempted to switch codes and that Rugby Union would suffer as a consequence, the unions of the three countries signed a multi million-dollar deal with Rupert Mordoch's News Corporation. This gave News Corp exclusive television rights to the competition for ten years.

A provincial series, Super 12 Rugby consisted of five teams from New Zealand, four from South Africa and three from Australia (NSW, Queensland and the ACT), and each team played all the other teams once during the yearly tournament. Bonus points are given to any team scoring four tries or more, putting the emphasis on strong, attacking rugby.

The Canterbury Crusaders are the most successful Super 12 team, having won five times throughout the nine year competition.

The ACT Brumbies were the only Australian team to have played in a Super 12 Final (1997, 2000, 2001 & 2004), winning the title in 2001 and 2004, until the NSW Waratahs were defeated in the 2005 final.

The South African teams are yet to take out a Super 12 Final.