South African domestic rugby season returns to life with seven weeks of high-calibre local rugby as Super Rugby returns – Unlocked!

The competition went into lockdown with the rest of South Africa at the end of March but returns with three added teams and a chase to a unique finale in November.

The four, existing Super Rugby teams – Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – have been joined by the Cheetahs, Pumas and Griquas, with all 21 matches broadcast live on SuperSport.

The season will resume at 19h00 on Friday, 9 October when the Sharks take on the Lions in Durban while the following day the Cheetahs and Bulls will host the Pumas (at 16h30), and Griquas (19h00) respectively.

The Stormers have a bye in the opening round, but they will host the Lions the following week, when the men from Johannesburg will face the Capetonians at Newlands on Saturday 17 October at 19h00.

“We’d like to thank all our stakeholders in getting to this point,” said Jurie Roux, SA Rugby CEO.

“It has been an extremely trying time but thanks to SuperSport and the seven teams involved we are able to resume rugby with a really exciting series of matches featuring the best players in the country.

“We have had to make some major format changes and look at creative ways to look after everyone’s needs but we think between now and the end of the season – which will only be in January next year – we will provide rugby and entertainment to excite the fans once more.”

Super Rugby Unlocked concludes on the weekend of 20/21 November, with matches in Pretoria ( Bulls v Pumas – Friday 20 November at 19h00), Bloemfontein (Toyota Cheetahs v Griquas – Saturday 21 November at 16h30) and Durban (Sharks v Stormers – Saturday 21 November at 19h00).

The team at the top of the standings at this stage of the season, will be crowned Super Rugby Unlocked champions, after which all log points will be transferred to the Currie Cup (fixtures to be announced in due course).

Competition format

Winner

The  Super Rugby Unlocked champion will be the team with the most table points at the end of the competition (a single round of seven matches per team) concluding on 21 November 2020.

Table position

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

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

Table points

Win: 4 points
Draw: 2 points
Loss: 0 points for loss by more than 7 points
Bonus: 1 point for loss by 7 points or fewer
Bonus: 1 point for scoring 3 tries or more than opponent

Records

For SANZAAR record purposes, Super Rugby Unlocked appearances and points will be kept separately and not become part of the historic Super Rugby record.

2020 Super rugby unlocked fixtures

All times SA