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Super Rugby 2015

Super Rugby 2015
Super Rugby 2015 was the 20th editition of the premier competition for professional teams in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It began on 13 February and ran through 18 rounds of home-and-away round-robin matches before entering its knockout stage. In an all-New Zealand grand final on 4 July 2015, the Highlanders beat the Hurricanes to capture their first Super Rugby title.
Patrick Osborne (centre) was a strong performer for the Highlanders during the Super Rugby season and has been rewarded by being added to the All Blacks squad. Photo: AFP
The Rugby Championship 2015

Uncapped Patrick Osborne added to All Blacks squad

Uncapped winger Patrick Osborne has been called into the extended All Blacks squad for this weekend's Rugby Championship decider against Australia in Sydney and the second Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies in Auckland the following week.

Rugby World Cup 2015

Super form puts TJ Perenara back in All Blacks frame for World Cup

Rugby World Cup 2015

Scrum-half Andy Ellis dons All Blacks jersey again for Samoa test

Highlanders claim maiden Super Rugby title with thrilling 21-14 win over Hurricanes

Flanker Elliot Dixon scored one try and delivered the crucial last pass in another by Waisake Naholo as the Highlanders shocked the Hurricanes 21-14 in Saturday’s Super Rugby final and win the southern hemisphere title for the first time.

Highlanders scrum-half Aaron Smith (right) and centre Malakai Fekitoa celebrate winning the 2015 Super Rugby title after their 21-14 win over the Hurricanes Saturday at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium. Photo: AFP
Rugby World Cup 2015

Steve Hansen fears for All Black players in ‘brutal’ Super Rugby final

The Hurricanes-Highlanders Super Rugby final on Saturday "is going to be brutal" and could damage New Zealand's World Cup strength, according to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

WATCH: Super Rugby 2015 semi-final highlights

Watch post-match reaction from players and coaches following the Hurricanes’ 29-9 home victory over the Brumbies and the Highlanders’ 35-17 away win over the NSW Waratahs in the Super Rugby semi-finals on Saturday.

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Hurricanes, Highlanders crush Aussie hopes to set up all-Kiwi Super Rugby final

Super Rugby will have a first-time champion this season after the Hurricanes and Highlanders won their semi-finals Saturday to set up the first all-New Zealand final in nearly a decade.

Aaron Smith (right) celebrates with his Highlanders team-mates after Patrick Osborne scored a late try to cap their 35-17 Super Rugby semi-final victory against the NSW Waratahs on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Hurricanes look to ride the Jerry Collins emotional wave against Brumbies

The Wellington Hurricanes will play the emotional card and invoke the memory of Jerry Collins when they play the ACT Brumbies this weekend as the Super 15 intensity hits "test-match level".

The Rugby Championship 2015

Brumbies winger Henry Speight banned for five weeks over dangerous play

ACT Brumbies winger Henry Speight has been banned for five weeks for dangerous play and will miss Saturday's Super Rugby semi-final against the Wellington Hurricanes, governing body Sanzar said on Wednesday.

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Super Rugby 2016

All Blacks great Tana Umaga takes over as Auckland Blues coach

Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga has been named coach of the Auckland-based Blues Super Rugby team, replacing John Kirwan who stepped down last week after three years in charge

Tana Umaga while Toulon coach in 2009. Photo: AP

Queensland Reds give up on Quade Cooper over ‘unrealistic expectations’

Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper is set to join the exodus of Australian players heading overseas after his Super Rugby side Queensland withdrew their offer of a contract extension.

Quade Cooper has signed a pre-commitment to join French side Toulon after the World Cup in England and Wales later this year, according to reports. Photo: AFP
Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Liam Messam to ditch Super Rugby in bid for Olympic gold with All Blacks Sevens

All Blacks loose forward Liam Messam will put his Super Rugby career on hold in a bid to win a sevens gold for New Zealand at next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Rugby World Cup 2015

Five uncapped players in extended All Blacks squad

Wellington Hurricanes outside back Nehe Milner-Skudder and Canterbury Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor were two of the biggest surprises in Steve Hansen’s extended All Blacks squad named on Sunday.

Rugby World Cup 2015

Highlanders and Brumbies reach Super Rugby semi-finals

The Otago Highlanders beat the Waikato Chiefs 24-14 and the ACT Brumbies accounted for the Stormers 39-19 to reach the semi-finals of this season's Super Rugby competition.

Joe Tomane breaks clear on his way to scoring his third try for the Brumbies in their 39-19 win over the Stormers in Cape Town. Photos: EPA

Stormers ‘good enough to beat anyone anywhere’

The Cape Town-based Stormers say they deserve their place in the Super Rugby play-offs and are capable of beating any team anywhere as they prepare to face the ACT Brumbies in the first knockout round.

The Stormers topped the South African conference and host Australia's Brumbies in Cape Town on Saturday. Photo: EPA
Super Rugby 2016

Tana Umaga waiting in the wings as John Kirwan stands down as coach of struggling Auckland Blues

John Kirwan has stood down as coach of the Auckland Blues after failing to bring the desired results to the Super Rugby team, the former All Blacks winger said on Friday.

Lealiifano and Brumbies look to bury last kick nightmare on return to Cape Town

Christian Lealiifano returns to the scene of his missed conversion nightmare this weekend as Australia's ACT Brumbies bid to stay alive in the Super Rugby play-offs against South Africa's Western Stormers.</p>

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Waratahs complete first step of Super Rugby ‘Mission: Improbable’

New South Wales Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has urged his players to remain firmly focused on their bid to become the first Australian team to win back-to-back Super Rugby titles over the two weeks until the semi-finals.

Waratahs utility back Kurtley Beale (bottom), pictured playing against the Sharks, is recovering from a strained quadriceps injury from Saturday's game against the Reds and should be ready for the Super Rugby semi-finals in two weeks. Photo: EPA

Crusaders give Carter, McCaw a winning send-off against Brumbies

The Canterbury Crusaders bid farewell to All Blacks greats Richie McCaw and Dan Carter on Saturday with a fitting Super Rugby victory that ended the ACT Brumbies’ hopes of winning the Australian conference.

All to play for as Waratahs and Brumbies battle for home advantage in play-offs

Defending champions New South Wales Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies are chasing maximum points this weekend to lock down a home semi-final and an easier path to this year's Super Rugby final.

Rugby World Cup 2015

Michael Hooper or Stephen Moore? Coach Michael Cheika to make tough call on Wallabies captaincy

Australia coach Michael Cheika said either incumbent Michael Hooper or senior hooker Stephen Moore will lead the Wallabies at this year’s World Cup.

Michael Hooper took over the national captaincy last year when Stephen Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury. Photos: AP

Dominant Chiefs, Waratahs clinch play-off berths

The Waikato Chiefs and the New South Wales Waratahs both secured their places in the Super Rugby play-offs after demolishing their respective rivals on Saturday.

Chiefs skipper Liam Messam powers over the try line. Photos: EPA
Rugby World Cup 2015

Beauden Barrett or Dan Carter? New Zealand’s favourite debate is heating up

Beauden Barrett's return to Super Rugby on Friday should serve to ease a selection concern or two for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. It will also no doubt trigger another round of one of the most popular debates in New Zealand - who should start at fly-half at the World Cup?

Dan Carter scores 15 points as Crusaders keep slim play-off hopes alive

Seven-time champions the Crusaders beat the Hurricanes 35-18 in Super Rugby on Saturday, keeping their slim play-off hopes alive and forcing the top-ranked Hurricanes to sweat for another week on the prospect of a home play-off in New Zealand.

Blow for Waratahs as bans on Will Skelton and Tolu Latu are upheld

The New South Wales Waratahs’ hopes of defending their Super Rugby title suffered a blow with appeals against the suspensions of forwards Will Skelton and Tolu Latu dismissed.

Will Skelton (right) will miss the Waratahs' South African tour this weekend. Photo: AFP
Rugby World Cup 2015

Brodie Retallick and Julian Savea commit to New Zealand, stemming player exodus

Reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Brodie Retallick and free-scoring winger Julian Savea have committed to playing in New Zealand until after the 2019 World Cup, New Zealand Rugby announced on Wednesday.

Julian Savea, nicknamed “The Bus” for his rampaging ball running, has scored a remarkable 30 tries in 33 tests. Photo: AP

Waratahs and Stormers on rise as Hurricanes first to clinch play-off spot

Australia’s NSW Waratahs and South Africa’s Western Stormers jumped to the top of their national conferences as the Wellington Hurricanes qualified for the Super Rugby play-offs at the weekend.

‘It’s going to be a war zone’: Waratahs ready to do battle with Crusaders

New South Wales Waratahs coach Michael Cheika is preparing his players for nothing short of a battle when they meet the Canterbury Crusaders in a crunch Super Rugby clash at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

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