2018 Super Rugby season

Summary

The 2018 Super Rugby season was the 23rd season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. After two seasons in which 18 teams participated, the 2018 season reverted to a 15-team competition, consisting of three geographical conferences.

2018 Super Rugby season
CountriesArgentina (1 team)
Australia (4 teams)
Japan (1 team)
New Zealand (5 teams)
South Africa (4 teams)
Tournament format(s)Conference and knockout
ChampionsCrusaders (9th title)
Matches played127
Tries scored925 (7.28 per match)
Top point scorer(s)Bernard Foley, Waratahs (223)
Top try scorer(s)Ben Lam, Hurricanes (16)
Official websiteOfficial site
2017 (Previous) (Next) 2019

The South African Rugby Union announced that the Cheetahs and Southern Kings would be dropped for the 2018 season,[1] while the Australian Rugby Union, now known as Rugby Australia, announced the exclusion of the Force. The South African franchises thereafter entered the newly renamed Pro14 competition, while the Western Force took part in the National Rugby Championship, the domestic Australia competition, while preparing to enter the new Global Rapid Rugby competition in 2019.[2]

Competition format edit

The 15 participating teams are divided into three geographical conferences: the Australian Conference (consisting of four Australian teams and the Japanese Sunwolves), the New Zealand Conference (consisting of five New Zealand teams), and the South African Conference (consisting of four South African teams and the Jaguares from Argentina).[3]

In the group stages, there are 19 rounds of matches, with each team playing 16 matches and having two rounds of byes, resulting in a total of 120 matches. Teams play eight inter-conference matches and eight cross-conference matches; they play all the other teams in their conference twice - once at home and once away - and play once against four of the teams in each of the other two conferences.

The top team in each of the three conferences qualify for the quarterfinals, as do the next five teams with the best records across the three conferences, known as wildcards. The conference winners and best wildcard team hosted the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal winners progressed to the semifinal, and the winners of the semifinals advanced to the final.[3]

Standings edit

The final standings for the 2018 Super Rugby season were:

2018 Super Rugby: Overall standings
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1   Crusaders 16 14 0 2 542 295 +247 77 39 7 0 63 Conference leaders
Qualified to the finals.
2   Lions 16 9 0 7 519 435 +84 77 55 6 4 46
3   Waratahs 16 9 1 6 557 445 +112 74 59 4 2 44
4   Hurricanes 16 11 0 5 474 343 +131 66 43 5 2 51 Wildcard teams
Qualified to finals.
5   Chiefs 16 11 0 5 463 368 +95 60 48 3 2 49
6   Highlanders 16 10 0 6 437 445 −8 59 57 3 1 44
7   Jaguares 16 9 0 7 409 418 −9 51 55 2 0 38
8   Sharks 16 7 1 8 437 442 −5 49 57 2 4 36
9   Rebels 16 7 0 9 440 461 −21 57 60 5 3 36
10   Brumbies 16 7 0 9 393 422 −29 56 52 2 4 34
11   Stormers 16 6 0 10 390 423 −33 46 56 0 5 29
12   Bulls 16 6 0 10 441 502 −61 59 66 2 3 29
13   Reds 16 6 0 10 389 501 −112 49 66 1 3 28
14   Blues 16 4 0 12 378 509 −131 50 66 2 4 22
15   Sunwolves 16 3 0 13 404 664 −260 48 99 0 2 14
Source: super.rugby
Australian Conference
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1   Waratahs 16 9 1 6 557 445 +112 74 59 4 2 44
2   Rebels 16 7 0 9 440 461 −21 57 60 5 3 36
3   Brumbies 16 7 0 9 393 422 −29 56 52 2 4 34
4   Reds 16 6 0 10 389 501 −112 49 66 1 3 28
5   Sunwolves 16 3 0 13 404 664 −260 48 99 0 2 14
New Zealand Conference
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1   Crusaders 16 14 0 2 542 295 +247 77 39 7 0 63
2   Hurricanes 16 11 0 5 474 343 +131 66 43 5 2 51
3   Chiefs 16 11 0 5 463 368 +95 60 48 3 2 49
4   Highlanders 16 10 0 6 437 445 −8 59 57 3 1 44
5   Blues 16 4 0 12 378 509 −131 50 66 2 4 22
South African Conference
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1   Lions 16 9 0 7 519 435 +84 77 55 6 4 46
2   Jaguares 16 9 0 7 409 418 −9 51 55 2 0 38
3   Sharks 16 7 1 8 437 442 −5 49 57 2 4 36
4   Stormers 16 6 0 10 390 423 −33 46 56 0 5 29
5   Bulls 16 6 0 10 441 502 −61 59 66 2 3 29
Competition rules[4]
Qualification:
Eight teams will qualify to the finals, with their final positions in the overall log determining their seedings in the quarter-finals. The conference winners will be seeded #1 to #3 for the quarter-finals, in order of log points gained during the group stages, while the wildcards will be seeded as #4 to #8 in order of log points gained during the group stages.
In the quarter-finals, the three conference winners and the highest-ranked wildcard team will host the first round of the finals, with the highest-seeded conference winner (Team #1) hosting the fifth-seeded wildcard entry (Team #8) in quarter-final 1, the second-seeded conference winner (Team #2) hosting the fourth-seeded wildcard entry (Team #7) in quarter-final 3, the third-seeded conference winner (Team #3) hosting the third-seeded wildcard entry (Team #6) in quarter-final 4 and the top-seeded wildcard entry (Team #4) hosting the second-seed wildcard entry (Team #5) in quarter-final 2.
The Quarter Final winners will progress to the semi-finals, where the winners of quarter-finals 1 and 2 will play each other, as well as the winners of quarter-finals 3 and 4, each tie hosted by the higher-seeded team.
The winner of the semi-finals will progress to the Final, again to be held at the venue of the highest-seeded team.
Tournament points breakdown:
* 4 tournament points for a win
* 2 tournament points for a draw
* 1 tournament bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
* 1 tournament bonus point for scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match
Classification:
Teams standings are calculated as follows:
* Conference leaders
* Tournament points
* Number of games won
* Overall points difference
* Number of tries scored
* Overall try difference
* Coin toss

Round-by-round edit

The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets:

Team Progression – Australian Conference
Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 QF SF Final
Waratahs 4
(7th)
6
(5th)
6
(8th)
10
(7th)
10
(9th)
14
(6th)
19
(6th)
24
(3rd)
24
(3rd)
24
(3rd)
25
(3rd)
26
(3rd)
31
(3rd)
31
(3rd)
35
(3rd)
39
(3rd)
44
(2nd)
44
(3rd)
Won Lost
Rebels 5
(2nd)
10
(2nd)
15
(1st)
15
(2nd)
20
(1st)
20
(1st)
20
(3rd)
21
(6th)
21
(7th)
21
(7th)
21
(10th)
25
(7th)
25
(9th)
30
(8th)
34
(8th)
35
(8th)
35
(8th)
36
(9th)
Brumbies 4
(5th)
4
(8th)
4
(13th)
8
(11th)
8
(11th)
9
(11th)
14
(8th)
14
(9th)
15
(11th)
15
(13th)
15
(14th)
16
(14th)
16
(14th)
20
(12th)
25
(11th)
29
(10th)
30
(10th)
34
(10th)
Reds 0
(14th)
4
(11th)
8
(6th)
12
(4th)
13
(7th)
13
(8th)
13
(10th)
13
(12th)
13
(13th)
17
(12th)
17
(12th)
17
(12th)
18
(12th)
19
(13th)
19
(13th)
19
(14th)
23
(13th)
28
(13th)
Sunwolves 1
(12th)
1
(14th)
1
(15th)
2
(15th)
2
(15th)
2
(15th)
2
(15th)
2
(15th)
2
(15th)
2
(15th)
2
(15th)
6
(15th)
10
(15th)
10
(15th)
10
(15th)
14
(15th)
14
(15th)
14
(15th)
Team Progression – New Zealand Conference
Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 QF SF Final
Crusaders 5
(3rd)
10
(3rd)
10
(4th)
10
(6th)
15
(3rd)
19
(4th)
24
(2nd)
24
(4th)
29
(2nd)
33
(1st)
38
(1st)
42
(1st)
46
(1st)
50
(1st)
54
(1st)
54
(1st)
58
(1st)
63
(1st)
Won Won Won
Hurricanes 1
(9th)
6
(4th)
10
(3rd)
10
(5th)
14
(4th)
19
(3rd)
23
(4th)
27
(1st)
27
(4th)
32
(4th)
36
(4th)
41
(4th)
45
(4th)
45
(4th)
45
(4th)
45
(4th)
50
(4th)
51
(4th)
Won Lost
Chiefs 0
(13th)
4
(10th)
4
(12th)
8
(10th)
13
(5th)
17
(5th)
21
(5th)
21
(5th)
26
(5th)
26
(6th)
27
(6th)
31
(6th)
32
(5th)
37
(5th)
37
(6th)
41
(5th)
45
(5th)
49
(5th)
Lost
Highlanders 4
(6th)
4
(7th)
9
(5th)
13
(3rd)
13
(6th)
14
(7th)
14
(7th)
19
(7th)
24
(6th)
28
(5th)
28
(5th)
32
(5th)
32
(6th)
36
(6th)
40
(5th)
40
(6th)
40
(6th)
44
(6th)
Lost
Blues 1
(10th)
2
(13th)
6
(9th)
6
(12th)
6
(13th)
6
(14th)
7
(14th)
12
(14th)
12
(14th)
13
(14th)
17
(13th)
17
(13th)
17
(13th)
17
(14th)
17
(14th)
22
(13th)
22
(14th)
22
(14th)
Team Progression – South African Conference
Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 QF SF Final
Lions 4
(4th)
9
(1st)
14
(1st)
15
(2nd)
19
(1st)
19
(2nd)
20
(2nd)
25
(1st)
25
(2nd)
30
(1st)
31
(2nd)
31
(2nd)
31
(2nd)
36
(2nd)
40
(2nd)
40
(2nd)
41
(2nd)
41
(3rd)
46
(2nd)
Won Won Lost
Jaguares 0
(15th)
0
(15th)
0
(15th)
4
(14th)
4
(14th)
8
(12th)
8
(13th)
8
(13th)
12
(13th)
16
(10th)
20
(8th)
24
(7th)
24
(8th)
29
(7th)
34
(7th)
34
(7th)
38
(7th)
38
(7th)
38
(7th)
Lost
Sharks 1
(5th)
1
(11th)
3
(12th)
8
(7th)
9
(9th)
9
(10th)
13
(10th)
14
(9th)
14
(10th)
18
(9th)
18
(11th)
23
(8th)
24
(10th)
28
(8th)
28
(9th)
28
(9th)
32
(9th)
32
(9th)
36
(8th)
Lost
Stormers 4
(1st)
5
(4th)
5
(6th)
5
(11th)
9
(8th)
13
(8th)
13
(9th)
13
(11th)
13
(11th)
14
(12th)
18
(10th)
22
(9th)
23
(11th)
24
(11th)
25
(10th)
25
(10th)
25
(12th)
29
(11th)
29
(11th)
Bulls 0
(6th)
4
(8th)
4
(9th)
5
(10th)
5
(13th)
5
(14th)
9
(12th)
9
(12th)
14
(8th)
19
(8th)
20
(9th)
20
(11th)
24
(9th)
24
(10th)
24
(11th)
24
(12th)
25
(11th)
29
(12th)
29
(12th)
Key: win draw loss bye

Matches edit

The fixtures for the 2018 Super Rugby competition were released on 21 September 2017.[5] The following matches were played during the regular season:

Home \ Away BLU BRU BUL CHI CRU HIG HUR JAG LIO REB RED SHA STO SUN WAR
Blues 21–27 24–32 16–34 15–36 13–20 10–20 39–16 40–63
Brumbies 8–21 24–12 20–25 24–27 45–21 24–17 41–31 17–24
Bulls 28–38 28–29 21–19 43–34 35–49 28–10 39–33 33–23
Chiefs 21–19 24–19 41–28 20–34 27–22 28–24 19–23 39–27
Crusaders 54–17 33–14 45–23 45–22 24–13 45–28 33–11 31–29
Highlanders 41–34 43–17 22–45 25–17 30–14 39–27 43–37 33–15
Hurricanes 42–24 25–13 29–19 29–12 28–19 38–34 38–37 43–15
Jaguares 54–24 14–40 9–34 49–35 7–18 29–13 25–14 38–28
Lions 35–38 42–24 38–12 8–14 47–27 26–19 52–31 40–38
Rebels 33–10 10–55 19–50 22–25 45–19 46–14 40–13 26–31
Reds 18–10 20–14 12–36 15–18 27–22 37–23 48–27 41–52
Sharks 10–40 28–24 38–12 20–10 31–24 24–17 50–22 24–24
Stormers 37–20 29–17 9–15 28–20 23–26 34–18 25–19 27–16
Sunwolves 10–24 25–32 42–37 10–61 17–37 63–28 26–23 29–50
Waratahs 21–24 31–40 41–12 0–29 51–27 37–16 34–27 77–25
Updated to match(es) played on 3 June 2018. Source: http://images.supersport.co.za/content/Vodacom%20Super%20Rugby%202018%20Draw.pdf
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Finals edit

The finals fixtures were as follows:

 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
 
          
 
21 July – Christchurch
 
 
Crusaders 40
 
28 July – Christchurch
 
Sharks 10
 
Crusaders 30
 
20 July – Wellington
 
Hurricanes 12
 
Hurricanes 32
 
4 August – Christchurch
 
Chiefs 31
 
Crusaders 37
 
21 July – Johannesburg
 
Lions 18
 
Lions 40
 
28 July – Johannesburg
 
Jaguares 23
 
Lions 44
 
21 July – Sydney
 
Waratahs 26
 
Waratahs 30
 
 
Highlanders 23
 

Quarterfinals edit

20 July 2018 Hurricanes 32–31 Chiefs Westpac Stadium, Wellington  
19:35 Try: Julian Savea   1'
TJ Perenara   33'62'
Ben Lam   69'
Con: Beauden Barrett   2', 33'
Jordie Barrett   70'
Pen: Beauden Barrett   11', 55'
Cards: Vaea Fifita   80'
Report[7]
Scoreboard[8]
Try: Brad Weber   7'
Anton Lienert-Brown   51'
Damian McKenzie   79'
Lachlan Boshier   80'
Con: Damian McKenzie   8', 52', 79'
Charlie Ngatai   80'
Pen: Damian McKenzie   22'
Attendance: 16,402[6]
Referee: Glen Jackson


21 July 2018 Crusaders 40–10 Sharks AMI Stadium, Christchurch  
19:35 Try: Bryn Hall   9'
David Havili   12'
Matt Todd   42'
Braydon Ennor   67'
Pete Samu   72'
Con: Richie Mo'unga   43', 68', 73'
Pen: Richie Mo'unga   7', 40', 57'
Report[9]
Scoreboard[10]
Try: Kobus van Wyk   26'
Con: Robert du Preez   27'
Pen: Robert du Preez   48'
Referee: Mike Fraser


21 July 2018 Waratahs 30–23 Highlanders Allianz Stadium, Sydney  
20:05 Try: Bernard Foley   54'61'
Israel Folau   56'
Con: Bernard Foley   54', 57', 62'
Pen: Bernard Foley   4', 9', 71'
Cards: Paddy Ryan   74'
Report[12]
Scoreboard[13]
Try: Waisake Naholo   11'
Rob Thompson   25'
Con: Lima Sopoaga   12', 26'
Pen: Lima Sopoaga   7', 19', 34'
Cards: Waisake Naholo   52' to 62'
Attendance: 12,067[11]
Referee: Angus Gardner


21 July 2018 Lions 40–23 Jaguares Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg  
15:05 Try: Ruan Combrinck   8'
Harold Vorster   15'
Malcolm Marx   27'
Andries Coetzee   57'
Con: Elton Jantjies   9', 16', 28', 58'
Pen: Elton Jantjies   26', 44', 76'
Drop: Elton Jantjies   64'
Report[14]
Scoreboard[15]
Try: Bautista Delguy   42'
Pablo Matera   48'
Con: Nicolás Sánchez   43', 49'
Pen: Nicolás Sánchez   4', 6', 37'
Referee: Jaco Peyper

Semifinals edit

28 July 2018 Crusaders 30–12 Hurricanes AMI Stadium, Christchurch  
19:35 Try: Richie Mo'unga   15'
George Bridge   28'
David Havili   44'
Braydon Ennor   69'
Con: Richie Mo'unga   16', 45'
Pen: Richie Mo'unga   36', 39'
Report[16]
Scoreboard[17]
Try: Julian Savea   19'
Ben Lam   80'
Con: Beauden Barrett   19'
Referee: Jaco Peyper


28 July 2018 Lions 44–26 Waratahs Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg  
15:05 Try: Kwagga Smith   21'63'
Aphiwe Dyantyi   26'
Malcolm Marx   35'58'
Courtnall Skosan   79'
Con: Elton Jantjies   28', 37', 64', 80'
Pen: Elton Jantjies   55', 74'
Report[18]
Scoreboard[19]
Try: Ned Hanigan   4'
Israel Folau   8'
Tom Robertson   39'
Jake Gordon   76'
Con: Bernard Foley   6', 10', 76'
Cards: Damien Fitzpatrick   57' to 67'
Referee: Glen Jackson

Final edit

4 August 2018 Crusaders 37–18 Lions AMI Stadium, Christchurch  
19:35 Try: Seta Tamanivalu   19'
David Havili   34'
Mitchell Drummond   62'
Scott Barrett   70'
Con: Richie Mo'unga   20', 36', 63', 71'
Pen: Richie Mo'unga   16', 33', 43'
Cards: Ryan Crotty   67' to 77'
Report[20]
Scoreboard[21]
Try: Cyle Brink   53'
Malcolm Marx   68'
Con: Elton Jantjies   54'
Pen: Elton Jantjies   13', 39'
Referee: Angus Gardner

Players edit

Squads edit

The following 2018 Super Rugby squads have been named:

Blues squad
Forwards Leni ApisaiGerard Cowley-TuiotiLyndon DunsheaBlake GibsonJosh GoodhueSione HaviliAlex HodgmanAkira IoaneJerome KainoAntonio Kiri KiriSione MafileoPauliasi ManuMatiaha MartinMatt MouldsBen Nee-NeeDalton PapaliiJames ParsonsJacob PierceGlenn PrestonKara PryorScott ScraftonMike TamoaietaMurphy TaramaiPatrick TuipulotuJimmy TupouOfa Tu'ungafasiRoss WrightDid not play:Isaac Salmon
Backs Caleb ClarkeMichael CollinsMatt DuffieTJ FaianeBryn GatlandTerrence HepetemaJordan HylandRieko IoaneDaniel KirkpatrickOrbyn LegerTumua ManuGeorge MoalaMelani NanaiSam NockStephen PerofetaAugustine PuluJonathan RuruJordan TrainorTamati TuaSonny Bill WilliamsDid not play:Otere BlackMatthew Johnson
Coach Tana Umaga
Brumbies squad
Forwards Robbie AbelAllan AlaalatoaBen AlexanderRichie ArnoldRory ArnoldSam CarterTom CusackBlake EneverMees ErasmusFolau Fainga'aLolo FakaosileaLeslie Leulua’iali’i-MakinJoshua Mann-ReaNic MayhewLachlan McCaffreyConnal McInerneyIsi NaisaraniMichael Oakman-HuntDavid PocockScott SioFaalelei SioneDarcy SwainRob ValetiniDid not play:Ben Hyne
Backs Tom BanksJames DargavilleKyle GodwinWharenui HaweraJordan Jackson-HopeTevita KuridraniChristian LealiifanoMatt LucasAndy MuirheadChance PeniJoe PowellAndrew SmithHenry SpeightLausii TaliauliJames Verity-AmmDid not play:Mack HansenRyan Lonergan
Coach Dan McKellar
Bulls squad
Forwards Shaun AdendorffTim AgabaMatthys BassonThembelani BholiLood de JagerNick de JagerJohan GrobbelaarLizo GqobokaJason JenkinsJannes KirstenHanro LiebenbergEdgar MarutlulleNqoba MxoliRuan NortjéTrevor NyakanePierre SchoemanRoelof SmitMornay SmithRG SnymanHendré StassenAdriaan StraussRuben van HeerdenConraad van VuurenMarco van StadenFrans van WykJaco VisagieDid not play:Aston FortuinSimphiwe MatanzimaRuan Steenkamp
Backs Marnitz BoshoffFrancois BrummerWarrick GelantBoeta HammanTravis IsmaielJT JacksonJohnny KôtzeJesse KrielManie LibbokDuncan MatthewsBurger OdendaalEmbrose PapierHandré PollardDivan RossouwDries SwanepoelJamba UlengoIvan van ZylAndré WarnerDid not play:Jade Stighling
Coach John Mitchell
Chiefs squad
Forwards Michael AllardiceTyler ArdronDominic BirdLachlan BoshierMitchell BrownSam CaneNathan HarrisLuke JacobsonMitchell KarpikSefo KautaiNepo LaulalaMatt MatichLiam MessamAtunaisa MoliJesse PareteLiam PolwartSam PrattleyBrodie RetallickAidan RossTaleni SeuPita Gus SowakulaAngus Ta'avaoSamisoni Taukei'ahoJeff ThwaitesKarl Tu’inukuafeDid not play:Mitchell GrahamKane HamesFin Hoeata
Backs Solomon AlaimaloJohnny Fa'auliTiaan FalconLuteru LaulalaAnton Lienert-BrownDamian McKenzieMarty McKenzieAlex NankivellCharlie NgataiDeclan O'DonnellToni PuluShaun StevensonBaylin SullivanTe Toiroa TahuriorangiJonathan TaumateineSean WainuiBrad WeberDid not play:Levi AumuaSam McNicolTim Nanai-WilliamsRegan Verney
Coach Colin Cooper
Crusaders squad
Forwards Michael Ala'alatoaHarry AllanSam Anderson-HeatherScott BarrettHeiden Bedwell-CurtisEthan BlackadderDonald BrighouseWyatt CrockettMitchell DunsheaOwen FranksBen FunnellBilly HarmonOliver JagerChris KingAndrew MakalioJoe MoodyTim PerryKieran ReadLuke RomanoPete SamuTom SandersSebastian SiatagaQuinten StrangeJordan TaufuaCodie TaylorMatt ToddSam Whitelock
Backs Tim BatemanGeorge BridgeBrett CameronRyan CrottyIsrael DaggMike DelanyMitchell DrummondBraydon EnnorTima Fainga'anukuJack GoodhueBryn HallDavid HaviliMitchell HuntJone Macilai-ToriManasa MataeleRichie Mo'ungaJack StrattonSeta TamanivaluDid not play:Will Jordan
Coach Scott Robertson
Highlanders squad
Forwards Alex AinleyLiam ColtmanJosh DicksonAsh DixonElliot DixonTom FranklinShannon FrizellJackson HemopoDillon HuntJames LentjesDaniel Lienert-BrownTyrel LomaxMarino Mikaele-Tu’uGuy MillarPari Pari ParkinsonGreg Pleasants-TateDan PryorAki SeiuliLiam SquireSiate TokolahiKalolo TuilomaLuke Whitelock
Backs Richard BuckmanMatt FaddesKayne HammingtonJosh IoaneTevita LiJosh McKayTevita NaburaWaisake NaholoJosh RentonAaron SmithBen SmithFletcher SmithLima SopoagaRob ThompsonSio TomkinsonThomas Umaga-JensenTeihorangi Walden
Coach Aaron Mauger
Hurricanes squad
Forwards Fraser ArmstrongAsafo AumuaMurray DouglasGareth EvansChris EvesMichael FatialofaAlex FidowVaea FifitaSam HenwoodSam LousiBen MayJames O'ReillyReed PrinsepMarcel RenataRicky RiccitelliArdie SaveaBrad ShieldsToby SmithBlade ThomsonJeffery Toomaga-AllenNathan VellaIsaia Walker-LeawereDid not play:James BlackwellDane Coles
Backs Vince AsoBeauden BarrettJordie BarrettJamie BoothFinlay ChristieJackson Garden-BachopWes GoosenRichard JuddBen LamNgani LaumapeJonah LoweNehe Milner-SkudderTJ PerenaraMatt ProctorJulian SaveaPeter Umaga-JensenIhaia WestDid not play:TJ Va'a
Coach Chris Boyd
Jaguares squad
Forwards Matías AlemannoFelipe ArreguiAgustín CreevyJavier DíazDiego FortunySantiago García BottaMarcos KremerTomás LavaniniJuan Manuel LeguizamónTomás LezanaPablo MateraSantiago MedranoJulián MontoyaJavier Ortega DesioGuido PettiLeonardo SenatoreNahuel Tetaz ChaparroJuan Pablo ZeissDid not play:Franco BrardaRodrigo BruniNicolás LeivaBenjamín MacomeSantiago MontagnerEnrique Pieretto
Backs Gonzalo BertranouEmiliano BoffelliSebastián CancelliereJerónimo de la FuenteBautista DelguyJoaquín Díaz BonillaBautista EzcurraFelipe EzcurraSantiago González IglesiasJuan Martín HernándezMartín LandajoJuan Cruz MalliaMatías MoroniRamiro MoyanoMatías OrlandoNicolás SánchezJoaquín TuculetDid not play:Santiago ÁlvarezTomás Cubelli
Coach Mario Ledesma
Lions squad
Forwards Jacobie AdriaanseCyle BrinkRobbie CoetzeeHacjivah DayimaniRuan DreyerLourens ErasmusAndries FerreiraCorné FourieJohannes JonkerRobert KrugerMalcolm MarxLen MassynFranco MostertMarvin OrieMarnus SchoemanSti SitholeDylan SmithKwagga SmithJacques van RooyenWarren WhiteleyDid not play:Willie EngelbrechtRhyno HerbstJaco Kriel
Backs Andries CoetzeeRuan CombrinckRoss CronjéAshlon DavidsAphiwe DyantyiNic GroomRohan Janse van RensburgMarco Jansen van VurenElton JantjiesSylvian MahuzaLionel MapoeHoward MnisiShaun ReynoldsCourtnall SkosanDillon SmitMadosh TambweHarold VorsterDid not play:Christiaan Meyer
Coach Swys de Bruin
Rebels squad
Forwards Jermaine AinsleyNathan CharlesAdam ColemanAngus CottrellBen DaleyPone Fa'amausiliColby Fainga'aTetera FaulknerRichard HardwickRoss Haylett-PettySam JeffriesAmanaki MafiSama MaloloGeoff ParlingMatt PhilipAnaru RangiFereti Sa'agaSam TalakaiLopeti TimaniJordan UeleseMahe VailanuDid not play:Rob LeotaTom MoloneyLaurie Weeks
Backs Tayler AdamsJack DebreczeniTom EnglishWill GeniaHarrison GoddardDane Haylett-PettyReece HodgeMarika KoroibeteJack MaddocksBill MeakesSefa NaivaluMichael RuruSemisi TupouDid not play:David HorwitzHenry HutchisonJack McGregorSione Tuipulotu
Coach David Wessels
Reds squad
Forwards Angus BlythKane DouglasSef Fa'agaseScott HigginbothamHarry Hockings • Harry Hoopert • Adam KorczykAlex MafiBrandon Paenga-AmosaAndrew ReadyIzack RoddaAngus Scott-YoungJames SlipperGeorge SmithJP SmithRuan SmithCaleb TimuLukhan TuiTaniela TupouLiam WrightDid not play:Michael GunnReece HewatMarkus Vanzati
Backs Filipo DaugunuChris Feauai-SautiaSamu KereviJono LanceBen LucasTate McDermottEto NabuliJayden NgamanuDuncan Paia'auaIzaia PereseJordan PetaiaMoses SoroviHamish StewartTeti TelaAidan TouaJames TuttleDid not play:Quade CooperKarmichael HuntLachlan Maranta
Coach Brad Thorn
Sharks squad
Forwards Hyron AndrewsRuan BothaKeegan DanielDan du PreezJean-Luc du PreezThomas du ToitRoss GeldenhuysGideon KoegelenbergStephan LewiesMzamo MajolaFranco MaraisJohn-Hubert MeyerTendai MtawariraTera MtembuTyler PaulChiliboy RalepelleJuan SchoemanAkker van der MerwePhilip van der WaltJacques VermeulenWian VoslooDid not play:Jean DrosteKhutha MchunuCoenie OosthuizenKerron van Vuuren
Backs Lukhanyo AmGarth AprilCurwin BoschRobert du PreezAndré EsterhuizenMarius LouwMakazole MapimpiLwazi MvovoS'busiso NkosiLouis SchreuderKobus van WykGrant WilliamsCameron WrightDid not play:Tristan BlewettMichael ClaassensJohan DeyselRhyno SmithJeremy WardCourtney WinnaarLeolin Zas
Coach Robert du Preez
Stormers squad
Forwards Juarno AugustusNizaam CarrJaco CoetzeeJan de KlerkJohan du ToitPieter-Steph du ToitNeethling FouchéJC Janse van RensburgSteven KitshoffSiya KolisiWilco LouwFrans MalherbeBongi MbonambiSalmaan MoeratDean MuirSikhumbuzo NotsheScarra NtubeniCarlü SadieRamone SamuelsJD SchickerlingKobus van DykChris van ZylCobus WieseDid not play:Stephan de WitEben EtzebethCaylib OosthuizenAlistair VermaakEduard Zandberg
Backs Craig BarryDamian de AllendePaul de WetJean-Luc du PlessisDewaldt DuvenageJJ EngelbrechtHerschel JantjiesDillyn LeydsSP MaraisJustin PhillipsRaymond RhuleSeabelo SenatlaJoshua StanderJano VermaakEW ViljoenGeorge WhiteheadDamian WillemseDid not play:Daniël du PlessisDan KrielSergeal Petersen
Coach Robbie Fleck
Sunwolves squad
Forwards Asaeli Ai ValuTakuma AsaharaJaba BregvadzeWillie BritzGrant HattinghUwe HeluKazuki HimenoShota HorieKeita InagakiShintaro IshiharaNika KhatiashviliKoo Ji-wonLappies LabuschagnéFetuani LautaimiMichael LeitchShinya MakabeCraig MillarJames MooreYusuke NiwaiShunsuke NunomakiEd QuirkAtsushi SakateYoshitaka TokunagaWimpie van der WaltHencus van WykRahboni Warren-VosayacoAlex WoontonSam WykesDid not play:Takeshi HinoMasakatsu Nishikawa
Backs Jason EmeryYoshikazu FujitaKenki FukuokaKai IshiiTimothy LafaeleLomano LemekiMichael LittleSemisi MasirewaRikiya MatsudaKotaro MatsushimaYutaka NagareRyoto NakamuraRyuji NoguchiHayden ParkerRobbie RobinsonHosea SaumakiKaito ShigenoYu TamuraFumiaki TanakaHarumichi TatekawaSione TeaupaWill TupouKeisuke UchidaGerhard van den HeeverAkihito YamadaDid not play:Daishi Murata
Coach Tony BrownJamie Joseph
Waratahs squad
Forwards Damien FitzpatrickNed HaniganJed HollowayMichael HooperHarry Johnson-HolmesSekope KepuTolu LatuRyan McCauleyWill MillerNick PalmerHugh RoachTom RobertsonPaddy RyanRob SimmonsTom StaniforthKalivati TawakeShambeckler VuiMichael WellsBrad WilkinDid not play:Jack DempseyMaclean JonesKelly MeafuaMatt SandellJP SauniLachlan Swinton • Cody Walker
Backs Kurtley BealeCameron ClarkLalakai FoketiIsrael FolauBernard FoleyJake GordonBryce HegartyAndrew KellawayTaqele NaiyaravoroAlex NewsomeNick PhippsCurtis RonaMitch ShortMichael SnowdenDid not play:Nick DuffyMack MasonIrae Simone
Coach Daryl Gibson

Top scorers edit

The top ten try and point scorers during the 2018 Super Rugby season are:[22]

Referees edit

The following refereeing panel was appointed by SANZAAR for the 2018 Super Rugby season:[23]

2018 Super Rugby referees
Argentina Federico Anselmi
Australia Nic BerryAngus GardnerWill Houston
Japan Shuhei Kubo
New Zealand Nick Briant • Mike FraserGlen JacksonJamie NutbrownBen O'KeeffeBrendon PickerillPaul Williams
South Africa AJ JacobsJaco PeyperRasta RasivhengeEgon SecondsMarius van der Westhuizen

Attendances edit

Team Main Stadium Capacity Total Attendance Average Attendance % Capacity
  Blues Eden Park 50,000 77,200 9,650 19%
  Chiefs Waikato Stadium 25,800
  Hurricanes Westpac Stadium 34,500 136,911 15,212 46%
  Crusaders Rugby League Park 18,000
  Highlanders Forsyth Barr Stadium 30,728
  Reds Suncorp Stadium 52,500 96,810 12,101 23%
  Brumbies Canberra Stadium 25,011 67,128 8,391 33%
  Waratahs Sydney Football Stadium 44,000 121,603 13,511 32%
  Melbourne Rebels AAMI Park 29,500 78,566 9,820 33%
  Sharks ABSA Stadium 52,000
  Bulls Loftus Versfeld 51,792
  Lions Ellis Park 62,567
  Stormers Newlands Stadium 51,900
  Jaguares José Amalfitani Stadium 49,640
  Sunwolves Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium 27,188 80,608 10,076 35%

References edit

  1. ^ "Future SA Vodacom Super Rugby franchises confirmed". South African Rugby Union. 7 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Western Force culled from Super Rugby competition". Daily Telegraph. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Sanzaar confirm Super 15 tournament from 2018". SuperXV. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  4. ^ "About Super Rugby". SANZAAR. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  5. ^ "2018 Super Rugby Match Schedule Announced" (Press release). SANZAAR. 21 September 2017. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Hurricanes beat Chiefs to secure Semi Final spot". SANZAAR. 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Hurricanes 32-31 Chiefs". SANZAAR. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Clinical Crusaders cruise past Sharks". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Crusaders 40-10 Sharks". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Defence and crowd got us home, says Gibson | Latest Rugby News". RUGBY.com.au. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Waratahs Storm Back to Stun Highlanders". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Waratahs 30-23 Highlanders". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Lions overcome Jaguares to reach semi-final". SANZAAR. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Lions 40-23 Jaguares". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Crusaders Beat 'Canes Book Home Final". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Crusaders 30-12 Hurricanes". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  18. ^ "Lions overcome Waratahs to reach Super Rugby final". SANZAAR. 29 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Lions 44-26 Waratahs". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  20. ^ "Outstanding Crusaders claim ninth Super Rugby title". SANZAAR. 4 August 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  21. ^ "Crusaders 37-18 Lions". SANZAAR. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  22. ^ "Super Rugby Stats". SANZAAR. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Super Rugby Referee Team 2018" (Press release). SANZAAR. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.

External links edit

  • Super Rugby websites:
    • Official Super Rugby website
    • Australia Super Rugby website
    • New Zealand Super Rugby website