As the fourteenth edition of Super rugby commences, little do many know about the omitted groups of South African rugby.
When the Super rugby tournament began in 1996, South Africa’s position of allocating their contributing teams was not as clear cut as their fellow SANZAR partners.
New Zealand, with 26 provincial unions, decided to create Super Rugby franchises. Based around five of their biggest separate unions, the country was divided from North to South through the Auckland Blues, Waikato Chiefs, Wellington Hurricanes, Canterbury Crusaders and Otago Highlanders.
Each franchise can draw upon players from the central and feeder unions. They also employ a simple draft system to allow player exchanges.
Australia drew upon their states. NSW and Queensland provided the first two teams as the traditional rugby powerhouse states, and the ACT Brumbies became the third team (the ACT rugby union was formed in 1938).
South Africa initially took another route. For the first two years of the competition, they actually had their four semi-finalists from their provincial tournament – the Currie Cup – competed in the Super 12. In 1998, they created a franchise style system like New Zealand.
But it was there that the similarities ended.
Currently in South Africa there are 14 provinces. In the Currie Cup, the championship is split into two divisions. The top eight teams play in the “premier” division, and the next six play in a “first” division.
Although the format of the competition has changed, essentially the six teams in the first division play for the chance to be promoted and rewarded with entry into the Premier Division.
Of the current fourteen provinces, only eleven are represented.
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