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.
The South African Rugby Union announced that the and would be dropped for the 2018 season, while the Australian Rugby Union, now known as Rugby Australia, announced the exclusion of the . 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.
Competition format The 15 participating teams are divided into three geographical conferences: the Australian Conference (consisting of four Australian teams and the Japanese ), the New Zealand Conference (consisting of five New Zealand teams), and the South African Conference (consisting of four South African teams and the from Argentina).
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.
Standings Conference standings
Overall standings
Round-by-round 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
The fixtures for the 2018 Super Rugby competition were released on 21 September 2017. The following matches were played during the regular season:
Finals
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Players
Squads
The following 2018 Super Rugby squads have been named:
+ squad Forwards Leni Apisai • Gerard Cowley-Tuioti • Lyndon Dunshea • Blake Gibson • Josh Goodhue • Sione Havili • Alex Hodgman • Akira Ioane • Jerome Kaino • Antonio Kiri Kiri • Sione Mafileo • Pauliasi Manu • Matiaha Martin • Matt Moulds • Ben Nee-Nee • Dalton Papalii • James Parsons • Jacob Pierce • Glenn Preston • Kara Pryor • Scott Scrafton • Mike Tamoaieta • Murphy Taramai • Patrick Tuipulotu • Jimmy Tupou • Ofa Tu'ungafasi • Ross Wright • Did not play: • Isaac Salmon Backs Caleb Clarke • Michael Collins • Matt Duffie • TJ Faiane • Bryn Gatland • Terrence Hepetema • Jordan Hyland • Rieko Ioane • Daniel Kirkpatrick • Orbyn Leger • Tumua Manu • George Moala • Melani Nanai • Sam Nock • Stephen Perofeta • Augustine Pulu • Jonathan Ruru • Jordan Trainor • Tamati Tua • Sonny Bill Williams • Did not play: • Otere Black • Matthew Johnson Coach Tana Umaga
+ squad Forwards Robbie Abel • Allan Alaalatoa • Ben Alexander • Richie Arnold • Rory Arnold • Sam Carter • Tom Cusack • Blake Enever • Mees Erasmus • Folau Fainga'a • Lolo Fakaosilea • Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin • Joshua Mann-Rea • Nic Mayhew • Lachlan McCaffrey • Connal McInerney • Isi Naisarani • Michael Oakman-Hunt • David Pocock • Scott Sio • Faalelei Sione • Darcy Swain • Rob Valetini • Did not play: • Ben Hyne Backs Tom Banks • James Dargaville • Kyle Godwin • Wharenui Hawera • Jordan Jackson-Hope • Tevita Kuridrani • Christian Lealiifano • Matt Lucas • Andy Muirhead • Chance Peni • Joe Powell • Andrew Smith • Henry Speight • Lausii Taliauli • James Verity-Amm • Did not play: • Mack Hansen • Ryan Lonergan Coach Dan McKellar
+ squad Forwards Shaun Adendorff • Tim Agaba • Matthys Basson • Thembelani Bholi • Lood de Jager • Nick de Jager • Johan Grobbelaar • Lizo Gqoboka • Jason Jenkins • Jannes Kirsten • Hanro Liebenberg • Edgar Marutlulle • Nqoba Mxoli • Ruan Nortjé • Trevor Nyakane • Pierre Schoeman • Roelof Smit • Mornay Smith • RG Snyman • Hendré Stassen • Adriaan Strauss • Ruben van Heerden • Conraad van Vuuren • Marco van Staden • Frans van Wyk • Jaco Visagie • Did not play: • Aston Fortuin • Simphiwe Matanzima • Ruan Steenkamp Backs Marnitz Boshoff • Francois Brummer • Warrick Gelant • Boeta Hamman • Travis Ismaiel • JT Jackson • Johnny Kôtze • Jesse Kriel • Manie Libbok • Duncan Matthews • Burger Odendaal • Embrose Papier • Handré Pollard • Divan Rossouw • Dries Swanepoel • Jamba Ulengo • Ivan van Zyl • André Warner • Did not play: • Jade Stighling Coach John Mitchell
+ squad Forwards Michael Allardice • Tyler Ardron • Dominic Bird • Lachlan Boshier • Mitchell Brown • Sam Cane • Nathan Harris • Luke Jacobson • Mitchell Karpik • Sefo Kautai • Nepo Laulala • Matt Matich • Liam Messam • Atunaisa Moli • Jesse Parete • Liam Polwart • Sam Prattley • Brodie Retallick • Aidan Ross • Taleni Seu • Pita Gus Sowakula • Angus Ta'avao • Samisoni Taukei'aho • Jeff Thwaites • Karl Tu’inukuafe • Did not play: • Mitchell Graham • Kane Hames • Fin Hoeata Backs Solomon Alaimalo • Johnny Fa'auli • Tiaan Falcon • Luteru Laulala • Anton Lienert-Brown • Damian McKenzie • Marty McKenzie • Alex Nankivell • Charlie Ngatai • Declan O'Donnell • Toni Pulu • Shaun Stevenson • Baylin Sullivan • Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi • Jonathan Taumateine • Sean Wainui • Brad Weber • Did not play: • Levi Aumua • Sam McNicol • Tim Nanai-Williams • Regan Verney Coach Colin Cooper
+ squad Forwards Michael Alaalatoa • Harry Allan • Sam Anderson-Heather • Scott Barrett • Heiden Bedwell-Curtis • Ethan Blackadder • Donald Brighouse • Wyatt Crockett • Mitchell Dunshea • Owen Franks • Ben Funnell • Billy Harmon • Oliver Jager • Chris King • Andrew Makalio • Joe Moody • Tim Perry • Kieran Read • Luke Romano • Pete Samu • Tom Sanders • Sebastian Siataga • Quinten Strange • Jordan Taufua • Codie Taylor • Matt Todd • Sam Whitelock Backs Tim Bateman • George Bridge • Brett Cameron • Ryan Crotty • Israel Dagg • Mike Delany • Mitchell Drummond • Braydon Ennor • Tima Fainga'anuku • Jack Goodhue • Bryn Hall • David Havili • Mitchell Hunt • Jone Macilai-Tori • Manasa Mataele • Richie Mo'unga • Jack Stratton • Seta Tamanivalu • Did not play: • Will Jordan Coach Scott Robertson
+ squad Forwards Alex Ainley • Liam Coltman • Josh Dickson • Ash Dixon • Elliot Dixon • Tom Franklin • Shannon Frizell • Jackson Hemopo • Dillon Hunt • James Lentjes • Daniel Lienert-Brown • Tyrel Lomax • Marino Mikaele-Tu’u • Guy Millar • Pari Pari Parkinson • Greg Pleasants-Tate • Dan Pryor • Aki Seiuli • Liam Squire • Siate Tokolahi • Kalolo Tuiloma • Luke Whitelock Backs Richard Buckman • Matt Faddes • Kayne Hammington • Josh Ioane • Tevita Li • Josh McKay • Tevita Nabura • Waisake Naholo • Josh Renton • Aaron Smith • Ben Smith • Fletcher Smith • Lima Sopoaga • Rob Thompson • Sio Tomkinson • Thomas Umaga-Jensen • Teihorangi Walden Coach Aaron Mauger
+ squad Forwards Fraser Armstrong • Asafo Aumua • Murray Douglas • Gareth Evans • Chris Eves • Michael Fatialofa • Alex Fidow • Vaea Fifita • Sam Henwood • Sam Lousi • Ben May • James O'Reilly • Reed Prinsep • Marcel Renata • Ricky Riccitelli • Ardie Savea • Brad Shields • Toby Smith • Blade Thomson • Jeffery Toomaga-Allen • Nathan Vella • Isaia Walker-Leawere • Did not play: • James Blackwell • Dane Coles Backs Vince Aso • Beauden Barrett • Jordie Barrett • Jamie Booth • Finlay Christie • Jackson Garden-Bachop • Wes Goosen • Richard Judd • Ben Lam • Ngani Laumape • Jonah Lowe • Nehe Milner-Skudder • TJ Perenara • Matt Proctor • Julian Savea • Peter Umaga-Jensen • Ihaia West • Did not play: • TJ Va'a Coach Chris Boyd
+ squad Forwards Matías Alemanno • Felipe Arregui • Agustín Creevy • Javier Díaz • Diego Fortuny • Santiago García Botta • Marcos Kremer • Tomás Lavanini • Juan Manuel Leguizamón • Tomás Lezana • Pablo Matera • Santiago Medrano • Julián Montoya • Javier Ortega Desio • Guido Petti • Leonardo Senatore • Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro • Juan Pablo Zeiss • Did not play: • Franco Brarda • Rodrigo Bruni • Nicolás Leiva • Benjamín Macome • Santiago Montagner • Enrique Pieretto Backs Gonzalo Bertranou • Emiliano Boffelli • Sebastián Cancelliere • Jerónimo de la Fuente • Bautista Delguy • Joaquín Díaz Bonilla • Bautista Ezcurra • Felipe Ezcurra • Santiago González Iglesias • Juan Martín Hernández • Martín Landajo • Juan Cruz Mallia • Matías Moroni • Ramiro Moyano • Matías Orlando • Nicolás Sánchez • Joaquín Tuculet • Did not play: • Santiago Álvarez • Tomás Cubelli Coach Mario Ledesma