Super Rugby schedule and format

While their rugby team is still basking in the glory of upsetting South Africa last weekend, the organisers of the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup have been going through something of a stadium crisis.

They have a three-match tour of New Zealand against the Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders, play the Cheetahs in South Africa, take on newcomers Japan in Tokyo but only play the Reds and Waratahs once. The Kings return to the competition with a derby against the Sharks, while the opening round is completed for a game at Newlands, where the Stormers will host the Bulls.

The 2016 Asteron Life Super Rugby Draw, released today along with the unveiling of a new trophy for the competition, was packed with highlights for Australian Rugby fans. The winners of each pool will earn automatic entry into the knockout Vodacom Super Rugby Finals Series. Unbridled excitement Sanzar interim chief executive officer Brendan Morris said fans could look forward to the upcoming season with a great deal of optimism and enthusiasm.

“This revised plan is an exciting blueprint for success and we are confident that Rugby World Cup 2019 will be very special tournament for Japan and global rugby”, said Shimazu. We want to grow our fan base and ensure existing fans stay loving our game. It will be divided into four conferences – with one in Australia and New Zealand each and two in South Africa. To lessen the travel burden on the South African teams, three of the Japanese entrant’s matches against South African teams will be played in Singapore.

The Singapore National Stadium will host matches featuring the Japanese-based team in the third, fifth and 12th rounds against the Central Cheetahs, Northern Bulls and Western Stormers respectively, SANZAR said.

Meticulously crafted by Blue Sky Design, the chrome and gold plated piece captures the prestige, grandeur and resilience of one of the world’s toughest sporting titles. The top two teams in each five-team group make the final eight. It is now eternal property of the Highlanders.

Japan coach Eddie Jones says he is “surprised” the country’s application for a Super Rugby team has been approved and warned it could severely damage the sport if it fails.

Rivalries don’t come any bigger than that between Australian Rugby’s oldest foes, the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds, who square off twice in the opening month of the season.

The new National Stadium, which would seat 80,000, was to host the tournament opener, semifinals, and final.

South Africa were understood to be on standby in case Japan failed to meet the criteria for the 2019 Cup – the first to be staged in Asia.