New Zealand Rugby President Brett Impey announced on Thursday that the 2021 Super Rugby Championship will only concern New Zealand clubs, effectively excluding Australian and Pacific teams while those from South America, Japan and from South Africa were already sidelined due to the health crisis.
“The Covid-19 made us think locally.
Given the success of Super Rugby Aotearoa (competition created during the health crisis to replace Super Rugby in 2020, Editor's note), it was obvious for us to continue in this direction in 2021, ”explained Brett Impey.
The Christchurch Crusaders had won in August the championship composed of five teams, all New Zealanders (Crusaders, Blues, Hurricanes, Highlanders, Chiefs).
Super Rugby, in its classic form, has pitted fifteen Argentinian, Australian, South African, Japanese and New Zealand franchises since 2016.
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