Super Rugby 2016: Match schedule

The southern hemisphere’s top rugby union club tournament kicks off, with two teams from Japan and Argentina joining a radical new format that sees the introduction of regional groups

REGULAR SEASON: Feb 26 – Jul 16. Each team plays total of 15 matches – 6 home and away games within domestic conference, and 9 ties combining group and overseas matches

AUSTRALASIAN GROUP

CONFERENCE MATCHES: 6 matches. Each team plays two teams home and away, and one match against remaining two

AUSTRALIA

Brumbies Jul 16 Jul 1 Mar 4

Force Mar 11 Feb 27 Apr 23

Rebels May 13 May 29 Mar 12

Reds Mar 5 Jul 15 Mar 27

Waratahs Apr 16 Apr 3 Feb 27

NEW ZELAND

Blues May 28 Feb 26 Mar 11

Chiefs Apr 8 Jul 1 May 7

Crusaders Mar 4 Feb 27 Jul 16

Highlanders Jul 16 May 13 Mar 5

Hurricanes Jul 2 Apr 23 May 27

GROUP MATCHES: 5 matches. Teams play one match against each team in other conference

Feb 26 Brumbies - Hurricanes

Mar 18 Hurricanes - Force

Mar 18 Waratahs - Highlanders

Mar 19 Reds - Blues

Mar 26 Chiefs - Force

Mar 26 Rebels - Highlanders

Apr 1 Highlanders - Force

Apr 2 Brumbies - Chiefs

Apr 8 Force - Crusaders

Apr 9 Reds - Highlanders

Apr 15 Rebels - Hurricanes

Apr 24 Brumbies - Crusaders

Apr 30 Blues - Rebels

Apr 30 Highlanders - Brumbies

May 6 Crusaders - Reds

May 14 Hurricanes - Reds

May 20 Crusaders - Waratahs

May 21 Chiefs - Rebels

May 21 Force - Blues

May 27 Waratahs - Chiefs

Jul 8 Blues - Brumbies

Jul 8 Reds - Chiefs

Jul 9 Crusaders - Rebels

Jul 9 Waratahs - Hurricanes

Jul 15 Blues - Waratahs

Highlanders: Champions 2015

SOUTH AFRICAN GROUP

CONFERENCE MATCHES: 6 matches. Each team plays other three teams home and away

AFRICA 1

Bulls Apr 2 May 21 Jul 9

Cheetahs Jul 16 Mar 5 Apr 15

Stormers Feb 27 May 28 Apr 8

Sunwolves JPN Mar 26 Mar 12 May 14

AFRICA 2

Jaguares ARG Apr 30 Jul 16 May 14

Kings May 27 Apr 23 Feb 27

Lions May 21 Jul 8 Jul 2

Sharks Mar 5 May 21 Apr 9

GROUP MATCHES: 4 matches. Teams play one match against each team in other conference

Feb 26 Cheetahs - Jaguares

Feb 27 Sunwolves - Lions

Mar 12 Stormers - Sharks

Mar 18 Bulls - Sharks

Mar 19 Lions - Cheetahs

Mar 26 Jaguares - Stormers

Apr 2 Kings - Sunwolves

Apr 9 Kings - Bulls

Apr 16 Lions - Stormers

Apr 23 Sunwolves - Jaguares

May 14 Cheetahs - Kings

May 28 Bulls - Lions

Jul 2 Jaguares - Bulls

Jul 9 Sharks - Cheetahs

Jul 15 Sharks - Sunwolves

Jul 16 Stormers - Kings

OVERSEAS MATCHES: Teams in Africa 1 will play one match against each team in Australian Conference, and teams in Africa 2 will play one match against each team in New Zealand Conference

QUARTER-FINALS: Jul 22/23

1st Conference Winner -
Team ranked 8 overall

2nd Conference Winner -
Team ranked 7 overall

3rd Conference Winner -
Team ranked 6 overall

4th Conference Winner -
Team ranked 5 overall

SEMI-FINALS: Jul 29/30

Highest ranked team -
Lowest ranked team

2nd-highest ranked team -
3rd-highest ranked team

SUPER RUGBY FINAL Saturday August 6, 2016

Source: Super Rugby

Pictures: Getty Images