Super Rugby Rules

Points Tabulation:
Points will be awarded in all Super Rugby matches on the following
basis.

Win 4 points
Draw 2 points
Loss 1 point for loss within 7 points or less of the team that
wins
Loss 0 points for loss of more than 7 points.
1 point for scoring 3 tries or more than the opposition in a match

Teams that have a bye will no longer be awarded 4 points.

The Tournament rules for determining regular season
table placing and Super Rugby Finals Series Qualification are
as follows.

3.5 (of the official 2012 Super Rugby tournament Manual)

3.5.1

Tie breaking rules

In the event of two or more teams being equal on competition
points for any position on either the Conference or Super Rugby
Standings tables, either during or at the end of the season,
such position will be decided upon using the following steps
until the tie is broken:

(a) Most wins from all matches;
(b) Highest aggregate points difference from all matches;
(c) Most tries from all matches;
(d) Highest aggregate difference of total tries for versus tries
scored against from all matches;
(e) Coin toss.

3.5.2

Six teams will qualify for the Finals Series at the conclusion
of the Regular Season as follows:

Conference Winners: the team in each of the AC, NZC and SAC
with the highest number of competition points will be the Conference
Winner for the respective Conference and will qualify for the
Finals Series.

The three Conference Winners will receive a Finals Series Ranking
as follows:

(i) The team with the highest number of competition points will
have a Finals Series Ranking of 1;
(ii)The team with the second highest number of competition points
will have a Finals Series Ranking of 2;
(iii) The team with the third highest number of competition
points will have a Finals Series Ranking of 3.

Wildcard Teams: the remaining three Finals Series places will be allocated to the three non-Conference Winning teams with
the highest number of Super Rugby table competition points regardless of the Conference in which the team plays. The three Wildcard
Teams will receive a Finals Series Ranking as follows:

(i) The team with the highest number of competition points will
have a Finals Series Ranking of 4;
(ii)The team with the second highest number of competition points
will have a Finals Series Ranking of 5;
(iii) The team with the third highest number of competition
points will have a Finals Series Ranking of 6.

3.6 Super Rugby Finals Series

3.6.1 The Super Rugby Finals Series will be played over three weeks and involve six matches in the following format:

Super Rugby Qualifiers (Week One)

Match A – Rank 4 v Rank 5
Match B – Rank 3 v Rank 6

Super Rugby Semi-Finals (Week Two)

Match C – Rank 2 v Winner of matches A or B with highest
finals ranking
Match D – Rank 1 v Other winner from matches A or B

Super Rugby Finals (Week Three)

Match E – Winner of matches C or D with highest finals
ranking v other winner from
matches C or D

3.6.2 Determining Winners of Super Rugby Finals Series Matches
– if the teams are tied at fulltime in any Finals Series Match
then the following will apply until a winner is found:

a) Extra Time – the procedure will be:

(i) After a five minute rest period, the extra time is played
in two 10 minute periods with a two minute halftime;
(ii)Before the extra time begins, the match Referee will do
a coin toss with the two captains one minute before the new
kick-off. The winner of the coin toss decides if his team wants
to kick-off or if his team wants to choose the side of the pitch
it wants to play on for the first 10 minute period;
(iii) For the second 10 minute period, the teams change sides
and the team that did not kick off in the first period does
so;
(iv) Coaches are not permitted on the field during the rest
period or halftime.
(v) Teams and match officials must remain on the field during
the rest period and at halftime.
(vi) Injury time is added to the two 10 minute periods.

b) Sudden Death – if the match is still tied at the end
of extra time, the procedure will be:

(i) An up to 10 minute sudden death period is played after another
five minute rest period;
(ii) The first team to score (by a penalty, drop-goal or try)
will be the winner;
(iii) As for extra time, one minute before sudden death begins,
the match Referee will do a coin toss to choose which team kicks-off
and on which side of the pitch they will play.
(iv) Teams and match officials must remain on the field during
the rest period.
(v) Injury time is added to this period of play.

Kicking Competition – if the match is still tied at the
end of sudden death, the Referee will conduct a place kicking
competition to determine the winner of the match, according
to the following procedures:

(i) All Players and Match officials will remain on the Playing
Area. The Referee will call the captains of the two teams together
and will conduct a coin toss. The winner of the coin toss then
may either choose which Team kicks first (in which case the
loser chooses the end at which all place kicks will be taken)
or choose the end at which all place kicks will be taken (in
which case the loser chooses which Team kicks first).

(ii)Each Team must nominate five Players to take part in the
competition. Only Players on the Playing Area at the final whistle
of extra time may be nominated. No substituted Players, injury-replaced
Players or Players who have been shown a red card may take part
at any time. For clarification purposes, any Player who has
received a yellow card and who remains in the sin bin at the
time of the final whistle of extra time may not take part in
the place kick competition (including during ‘sudden death’).
The order in which the nominated Players will kick does
not have to be predetermined.

(iii)

The Match Officials and the ten nominated Players (five from
each team) will assemble on the halfway line. Team management
and Players not nominated must remain behind the halfway line
in the side of the Playing Area not used. No one other than
the Match Officials, the Match Manager, two Ball persons and
the participating Players are allowed in the part of the Playing
Area being used for the competition (including around the Playing
Area, behind the posts, etc).

(iv)

The five Players from each Team will place kick from three different
points, all on the 22 metre line, as follows:

First point:
Second point:
Third point:

(v) The Referee will start the competition by calling the first
Player selected from the Team kicking first to the first kicking
point. Once the Player has taken the place kick, the Referee
calls a Player from the opposing Team to take his place kick
from the same point.

(vi)

The next two Players (one from each Team) will place kick from
the second point in turn. This will continue until all five
Players from each Team have place kicked (the next players place
kicking respectively from the third point, the first point and
finally the second point), or until one Team is unable to equal
the score of the other Team within the remaining number of kicks
(at which time the Referee will declare the winner).

(vii)

If there are an equal number of successful kicks once each Team
has completed its five place kicks, the competition continues
on a ‘sudden death’ basis, following the same order of kickers
used in the first five kicks.

(viii) The competition will continue two kickers at a time (one
from each Team), going progressively through the three kicking
points as stated above (and repeating the process if necessary)
until one player succeeds with a place kick and the player from
the other Team taking the same place kick misses it. Once this
occurs, the Team of the player who succeeded with the place
kick will be declared the winner. Each of these additional kicks
shall be taken by the same 5 players in rotation.

(ix)

Throughout the place kicking competition:

(a) Once a Player has positioned the ball on the kicking tee,
he must take the kick within one minute. Should he take longer,
the Referee shall declare the kick unsuccessful.

(b) After each kick, the Referee records the number of the Player
and whether or not the attempt was successful. The Sideline
Manager / Substitution Recorder will record the same details
on the official Match report.

(c) Whether or not the kick is successful in each case is the
sole decision of the Referee, who may at his sole discretion
rely on the assistance of his assistant Referees. The Referee’s
decision shall be final and binding.

(d) Once a Player has completed their place kick, they shall
return to stand with their Team behind the halfway line in the
side of the playing area not used.