Vodacom Super Rugby 2015 fixtures announced

Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls launch the South African leg of Vodacom Super Rugby season with home derbies against Toyota Cheetahs and DHL Stormers respectively next year, SANZAR announced on Thursday. Meanwhile the Lions will host the Hurricanes at Ellis Park.

The 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby campaign kicks off when seven-time champions the Crusaders welcome the Rebels to AMI Stadium in New Zealand on Friday February 13.

The competition will start simultaneously in all territories – after staggered starts in recent years – and will run without interruption until the final on July 4 in the absence of June internationals, because of it being a Rugby World Cup year.

All five matches of the 2014 Super Rugby Finals Series will recur during the 2015 Regular Season, including a re-match of the record-breaking final, when the Waratahs and Crusaders return to Sydney’s ANZ Stadium in Round 15.

New Zealand teams are taking the opportunity to consider delivering their Super Rugby fixtures to alternative locations, particularly in regional areas, because some venues are unavailable due to a clash with other events.

Greg Peters, SANZAR ACEO, said: “The 2015 season marks the final year of Super Rugby in its current format, before the competition expands into a bold new era from 2016.

“As we plan for the future, we also eagerly look forward to seeing how the coming season pans out following one of the most competitive years in the history of Super Rugby.”

Team by team

Each team plays home and away derbies within their own conference, plus the following cross-conference matches in the 2015 Super Rugby season:

Vodacom Bulls: Hurricanes (H) Force (H) Crusaders (H) Reds (H) Blues (A) Chiefs (A) Brumbies (A) Rebels (A)

Toyota Cheetahs: Blues (H) Crusaders (A) Chiefs (A) Brumbies (A) Force (A) Reds (H) Highlanders (H) Waratahs (H)

Lions: Hurricanes (H) Blues (A) Crusaders (A) Rebels (A) Reds (A) Highlanders (H) Brumbies (H) Waratahs (H)

Cell C Sharks: Chiefs (H) Force (H) Crusaders (H) Highlanders (A) Hurricanes (A) Waratahs (A) Reds (A) Rebels (H)

DHL Stormers: Blues (H) Chiefs (H) Highlanders (A) Hurricanes (A) Waratahs (A) Force (A) Brumbies (H) Rebels (H)