Current season, competition or edition: 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season | |
 Official Logo | |
| Sport | Rugby Union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020; 5 years ago (2020) |
| First season | 2020 |
| Ceased | 2021 |
| Owner | SANZAAR |
| CEO | Greg Peters |
| Divisions | New Zealand |
| No. of teams | 5 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Last champion | Crusaders (2nd title) (2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season) |
| Most titles | Crusaders (2 titles) |
| Broadcasters | Digicel ESPN ESPN International Nine Network RugbyPass Sky Sport Stan Sport SuperSport Telefónica Wowow |
| Sponsor | Sky |
| Related competitions | Super Rugby Super Rugby AU Super Rugby Unlocked Mitre 10 Cup |
| Official website | SuperRugby.com |
Super Rugby Aotearoa named theSky Super Rugby Aotearoa for sponsorship purposes[1] was a professional men'srugby union national club competition inNew Zealand. Originally created to supplement the2020 Super Rugby season, which was suspended due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the tournament continued in 2021, with a competition being confirmed later that year, including 12 teams in a brand new competition named Super Rugby Pacific.
In its first season, the tournament was a 10-week round robin tournament played by the five New Zealand–based teams of Super Rugby.[2] However, for 2021, the tournament had an additional final between the two highest placed teams in the tournament, with a finals system being used by the similarly createdSuper Rugby AU tournament in Australia.[3]
On 2 June, New Zealand Rugby announced that it would implement two optionallaw trials being offered byWorld Rugby,[4] including agolden point format for extra time, and that players who receive a red card can be substituted after 20 minutes. It was also stated that referees would be stricter in applying laws forbreakdowns to increase the pace of play.[5]
Super Rugby Aotearoa is shown by the following broadcasters:
The 2020 tournament was run byRugby New Zealand with the sponsorship ofFoxtel which provided television coverage on itsFox Sports channels withSky (New Zealand) being thenaming rights sponsor.Gilbert is the official supplier of allrugby balls.
Official match-day attire together with other club merchandise is sold through the Super Rugby Aotearoa's stores and website as well as through the clubs and some retailers.
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