NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Blues (rugby team)

The Blues, formerly the Auckland Blues, are a professional New Zealand rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand, and representing the Northland, North Harbour and Auckland unions. They compete in the Super 14 (formerly Super 12) competition, which they have won three times; 1996, 1997, and 2003. The Blues' main home ground is Eden Park in Auckland. Auckland Blues rugby team logo (fair use) This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... The New Zealand Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in New Zealand. ... The Northland Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Northland region of New Zealand. ... The North Harbour Rugby Union was formed in 1985 and during this time has developed a reputation for playing quality rugby football. ... The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland isthmus territorial authority in the North Island in New Zealand. ... Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... Schematic map of Auckland. ... North Shore Categories: New Zealand geography stubs | Auckland | Cities and towns in New Zealand | Territorial Authorities of New Zealand ... Waitakere City is in the west of metropolitan Auckland, New Zealands most populous urban area. ... The North Auckland Peninsula, frequently referred to simply as the Northland Peninsula, is located in the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Eden Park viewed from Mount Eden Proposed $320M redevelopment for the 2011 Rugby World Cup Eden Park is the main sports ground in Auckland, New Zealand for both rugby union during winter, and cricket in summer. ... North Harbour Stadium is a stadium situated in Albany on Aucklands North Shore in New Zealand. ... ITM Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Whangarei, New Zealand. ... Troy Vandem Flavell (born 4 November 1976 in Otahuhu, West Auckland) is a New Zealand rugby union player. ... The current Super 14 logo The Super 14 is a rugby union championship competed for by teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. ... The 2006 Super 14 season started on Friday February 10, 2006. ... Image File history File links left arm of kit template File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... body of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... rightarm of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links Kit_shorts. ... socks of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links left arm of kit template File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... body of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... rightarm of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links Kit_shorts. ... socks of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... A rugby union scrum. ... Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... The Northland Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Northland region of New Zealand. ... The North Harbour Rugby Union was formed in 1985 and during this time has developed a reputation for playing quality rugby football. ... The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland isthmus territorial authority in the North Island in New Zealand. ... The current Super 14 logo The Super 14 is a rugby union championship competed for by teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. ... Eden Park viewed from Mount Eden Proposed $320M redevelopment for the 2011 Rugby World Cup Eden Park is the main sports ground in Auckland, New Zealand for both rugby union during winter, and cricket in summer. ...

Franchise history

Initial composition of the Blues

When NZRU were initially deciding the team compositions for the Super 12 in 1995 it was decided that to have the Blues franchise encompass the North Harbour, Counties-Manukau, Northland and Auckland provincial rugby unions would be unfair. This was due to the preponderance of All Blacks (players representing New Zealand) who came from North Harbour, Counties-Manukau and Auckland at the time. Hence if the Blues were to consist of these unions, they would field an All Blacks team in all but name. The New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRU) is the governing body of rugby union in New Zealand. ... Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union (CMRFU) is a Rugby Football Union, based in the Franklin district of New Zealand. ... First international Australia 3 - 22 New Zealand (15 August 1903) Largest win New Zealand 145 - 17 Japan (4 June 1995) Worst defeat Australia 28 - 7 New Zealand (28 August 1999) World Cup Appearances 5 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 1987 All Blacks is the name of New Zealands...

This led to North Harbour and Northland being represented by the nearest other team, the Chiefs (at the time named the Waikato Chiefs). As a result, the Blues did not represent all of Auckland, as North Harbour represents the northern part of the Auckland region; however the Blues represented Thames Valley as part of their franchise, a region considerably closer to Hamilton than Auckland. The Chiefs (formerly known as Waikato Chiefs), are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand, and representing the Counties Manukau, Waikato, Thames Valley, King Country and Bay of Plenty unions; up until 1999 North Harbour which was swapped with the Blues for Counties Manukau. ... Hamilton (Kirikiriroa in MÄori) is New Zealands fourth-largest city. ...

Borders redrawn

By the end of the 1990s the number of All Blacks from these unions had decreased. This led the Blues and the Chiefs to arrange a swap, where the Chiefs would represent Thames Valley and Counties Manukau in exchange for the Blues representing Northland and North Harbour. Although in the seasons leading up to the trade North Harbour and Northland had outperformed Counties Manukau and Thames Valley in provincial rugby (see National Provincial Championship), it enabled both franchises to represent unions closer geographically. Despite this, the Blues lost the area colloquially referred to as South Auckland (Counties Manukau) which is also part of the Auckland metropolitan area. Thus, the Blues traded South Auckland for North Auckland and Blues still do not represent the entire Auckland region. In 2000, all of New Zealand's Super 12 franchises dropped the regional identifiers from their official names. The National Provincial Championship (which for sponsorship reasons, is referred to as Air New Zealand NPC or just simply NPC) is New Zealands principal domestic rugby union competition. ... South Auckland is a common name for a part of Auckland, New Zealand. ... Auckland Region is a local government region in New Zealand. ...

Playing history

The Blues won the inaugural Super 12 competition in 1996, winning the final at Eden Park 46-22 against Natal. They followed this up by winning the competition again in 1997, this time without losing a game (although they drew one). Eden Park hosted it's third straight Super 12 final in 1998, this time the Blues played host to the Crusaders (named Canterbury Crusaders at the time). The 1998 final ended in a Crusaders victory 20-13, preventing the Blues gaining a hat-trick of titles. The Sharks are a South African Rugby Union team competing in the Super 14 competition (Super 12 from 1996-2005. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ...

The Blues have only achieved title success once since 1997, defeating the Crusaders in the 2003 final 21-17. Although the team has consistently fielded All Blacks, it has struggled to perform well, having failed to make the semi-finals since 2003. With the expanded competition in 2006 (renamed the Super 14) the Blues were predicted to make the semi-finals, and to be a strong title contenders, however they proved disappointing, finishing eighth.^[1]

2006 draft fiasco

The Blues were forced by the New Zealand Rugby Union board to include North Harbour captain Rua Tipoki in their squad of 24 players who are 'protected' from the draft. Tipoki was originally to be excluded from the draft due to personal circumstances in order to stay in Auckland, Andrew Mehrtens has in the past done this with the Crusaders. The NZRU however forced coach David Nucifora to pick Tipoki in his 24 man squad and hence drop another player. The North Harbour Rugby Union was formed in 1985 and during this time has developed a reputation for playing quality rugby football. ... Andrew Philip Mehrtens MNZM (born 28 April 1973 in Durban, South Africa) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who has been one of the top fly-halves (or first five-eighths) in the world since the advent of the sports professional era in the mid-1990s. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand, Jade Stadium, and representing the Buller, Tasman, West Coast, Canterbury, Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury unions. ...

It is believed the NZRU board was in favour of dropping players such as Isa Nacewa or Viliame Waqaseduadua who are ineligible to play for the All Blacks.^[2] Instead, Nucifora excluded All Black Isaia Toeava. Toeava, subsequently, played for the Hurricanes in 2006. First international Australia 3 - 22 New Zealand (15 August 1903) Largest win New Zealand 145 - 17 Japan (4 June 1995) Worst defeat Australia 28 - 7 New Zealand (28 August 1999) World Cup Appearances 5 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 1987 All Blacks is the name of New Zealands... Isaia Toeava (born 15 January 1986 in Motootua, Samoa), is a professional rugby union player from New Zealand. ... The Hurricanes are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Wellington and representing the East Coast, Poverty Bay, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wairarapa-Bush, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wellington unions. ...

Players and coaches of note

2007 squad

Isakeli Nacewa (born 22 July 1982 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a Fijian rugby union footballer. ... Rudi Wulf (born 2 February 1984 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a rugby union player who plays for North Harbour in the Air New Zealand Cup. ...

Current staff

Former coaches

Graham Henry (born 8 June 1946 in Christchurch) is a New Zealand rugby union coach, currently head coach of the countrys storied national team, the All Blacks. ...

Notable former players

Zinzan Valentine Brooke (born February 14, 1965) is a former New Zealand rugby union international player who played at number eight. ... Rupeni Caucaunibuca (IPA: , born 5 June 1980) is a Fijian rugby union footballer. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Michael Niko Jones (born April 8, 1965 in Apia) has been named as one of the worlds greatest rugby union players of the all-time by The Times and also the 3rd greatest all black of all-time after Colin Meads and Sean Fitzpatrick respectively. ... Kees Junior Meeuws (born July 26, 1974; IPA: ) is a New Zealand rugby union prop who currently plays for French club Agen. ... Brian Lima (born 25 January 1972 in Apia, Samoa) is a Samoan rugby union footballer. ... Te Rua Reihana Tipoki (born 11 August 1975 in Te Puia Springs, New Zealand) is a rugby union player who has played for North Harbour in the Air New Zealand Cup and for the Auckland Blues in the Super 14. ... Jonah Tali Lomu (born May 12, 1975) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who has played 73 times (63 caps) as an All Black after debuting in 1994. ... Caleb Ralph Caleb Stanley Ralph (born 9 September 1977 in Rotorua) is a New Zealand rugby union international. ... Mark Robinson (born 21 August 1975 in Palmerston North, New Zealand) is a rugby union footballer, who plays scrum-half for Northampton Saints. ... Xavier Joseph Rush (born 13 July 1977 in Auckland) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. ... Carlos James Spencer (born 14 October 1975 in Levin) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays at fly-half for the Northampton Saints in England and formerly for the New Zealand All Blacks. ...

Super records and achievements

Super 12 placings

The Sharks are a South African Rugby Union team competing in the Super 14 competition (Super 12 from 1996-2005. ... The Brumbies (formerly known as the ACT Brumbies, for sponsorship reasons referred to as CA Brumbies) are a Super 14 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberras hinterland. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ...

Super 14 placings

Notes and references

September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Categories: Rugby union in New Zealand | Super 12 champions | Super 14 teams | New Zealand rugby union teams | Sport in Auckland | New Zealand stubs | Rugby union stubs The current Super 14 logo The Super 14 is a rugby union championship competed for by teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. ... Super 12 The 1996 season of the rugby union competition, the Super 12, was the inaugural season and was won by the Auckland Blues. ... The 1997 season of the international rugby union competition, the Super 12, was the second of its kind, with the 1996 season being the first that the tournament had run. ... The 1998 Super 12 season was won by New Zealand side, the Canterbury Crusaders after defeating the Auckland Blues in the final. ... The 1999 Super 12 season was won by the Crusaders who defeated the Highlanders in the final. ... The 2000 Super 12 season was won by the Crusaders after defeating the Brumbies 20-19 in the final. ... The 2001 season of the international rugby union competition, the Super 12 was contested from February through to May, and was won by the ACT Brumbies, who beat the Coastal Sharks in the final. ... The 2002 Super 12 season was won by the Crusaders, who defeated the Brumbies in the final. ... The 2003 Super 12 season was won by the Blues, who defeated the Crusaders in the final. ... The 2004 Super 12 season was won by the Brumbies, who defeated the Crusaders in the final. ... The 2005 season of the rugby union competition, the Super 12 began on February 25, 2005 and ended on May 28 with the final between the Crusaders and the Waratahs which was won by the Crusaders 35â€“25 at Jade Stadium in Christchurch. ... The 2006 Super 14 season started on Friday February 10, 2006. ... The 2007 Super 14 season will start in February 2007. ... In the history of the Super 12 (1996 - 2005), a SANZAR provincial rugby union competition, there were only three teams which lifted the Super 12 trophy. ... The Blues, formerly the Auckland Blues, are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand, and representing the Northland, North Harbour and Auckland unions. ... The Blues, formerly the Auckland Blues, are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand, and representing the Northland, North Harbour and Auckland unions. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... The Brumbies (formerly known as the ACT Brumbies, for sponsorship reasons referred to as CA Brumbies) are a Super 14 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberras hinterland. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... The Blues, formerly the Auckland Blues, are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand, and representing the Northland, North Harbour and Auckland unions. ... The Brumbies (formerly known as the ACT Brumbies, for sponsorship reasons referred to as CA Brumbies) are a Super 14 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberras hinterland. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... This article is about winners of the expanded Super 14 competition. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... The All Blacks playing the Wallabies. ... The New Zealand Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in New Zealand. ... First international Australia 3 - 22 New Zealand (15 August 1903) Largest win New Zealand 145 - 17 Japan (4 June 1995) Worst defeat Australia 28 - 7 New Zealand (28 August 1999) World Cup Appearances 5 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 1987 All Blacks is the name of New Zealands... The Junior All Blacks is a New Zealand rugby team. ... The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team competes in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games. ... First international Ireland 4 - 13 New Zealand MÄori (as the New Zealand Natives) (1888-12-01) Largest win United States 6 - 74 New Zealand MÄori (2006-06-07) Worst defeat New Zealand MÄori 6 - 31 Australia (1936-09-23) ... The Black Ferns is New Zealands national womens rugby team. ... The Rugby World Cup trophy, the Webb Ellis Cup. ... The Tri Nations Trophy The Tri Nations Series is an annual international rugby union series held between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. ... The current Super 14 logo The Super 14 is a rugby union championship competed for by teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. ... The logo of the 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations. ... The Bledisloe Cup Rugby Unions Bledisloe Cup is contested between Australias Wallabies and New Zealands All Blacks. ... Mens (right) and womens (left) Barclays Churchill Cup trophies The Churchill Cup (referred to as Barclays Churchill Cup for sponsorship reasons) is an annual rugby union tournament contested by representative mens and womens teams from Canada, England, and the United States, with three invited teams (originally... The Rugby World Cup Sevens is the worlds premier international contest in the Sevens version of rugby union, first held in Scotland in 1993 and held every four years. ... The IRB Sevens World Series, known officially as the IRB Sevens before the 2006-07 season and also sometimes called the World Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby union sevens tournaments organised for the first time in the 1999-2000 season. ... The Wellington Sevens or The AXA New Zealand International Sevens is an annual rugby sevens tournament held in Wellington, New Zealand. ... The Chiefs (formerly known as Waikato Chiefs), are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand, and representing the Counties Manukau, Waikato, Thames Valley, King Country and Bay of Plenty unions; up until 1999 North Harbour which was swapped with the Blues for Counties Manukau. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... The Highlanders (formerly known as Otago Highlanders), are a rugby union team from New Zealand. ... The Hurricanes (formerly known as the Wellington Hurricanes) are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Wellington and representing the East Coast, Poverty Bay, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wairarapa-Bush, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wellington unions. ... The Air New Zealand Cup (also referred to by its previous name of the National Provincial Championship, its abbreviation of NPC, or for sponsorship reasons as the Air New Zealand NPC) is New Zealands professional domestic rugby union competition. ... The Heartland Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the AA Rewards Heartland Championship,[1] is an amateur domestic rugby union competition in New Zealand. ... The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log of Wood, is perhaps the most prestigious trophy in New Zealands domestic rugby union competition. ... The Hanan Shield is one of the most prestigious trophy in New Zealands domestic rugby union competition. ... The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland isthmus territorial authority in the North Island in New Zealand. ... The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the region of Bay of Plenty on the North Island of New Zealand. ... The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is the official governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the Canterbury region of New Zealand. ... The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union (CMRFU) is the governing body of rugby union in the Franklin district of New Zealand. ... The Hawkes Bay Rugby Union (HBRU) is a governing body of rugby union in the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand. ... Manawatu Rugby Union (MRU) is the governing body of Rugby in the Manawatu rugby province. ... The North Harbour Rugby Union was formed in 1985 and during this time has developed a reputation for playing quality rugby football. ... The Northland Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Northland region of New Zealand. ... ... The Southland Rugby club plays as a province in the Air New Zealand Cup, also known as the Premier Division of the National Provincial Championship. ... Taranaki Rugby Football Union (TRFU) is the governing body of Rugby in the New Zealand province of Taranaki. ... The Tasman Rugby Union will become New Zealands newest provincial union when the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup starts in July. ... The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the region of Waikato on the North Island of New Zealand. ... The Wellington Rugby Football Union (WRFU) is the official governing body of rugby union in the city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. ... The Buller Rugby Football Union (BRFU) is a rugby province based in Westport, New Zealand. ... The East Coast Rugby Football Union is a constituent union in the New Zealand Rugby Union. ... The Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Football Union was formed in 1893. ... The King Country Rugby Football Union was formed in 1922. ... The Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union (MCRFU) is a rugby province in the South Island of New Zealand. ... The North Otago Rugby Football Union (NORFU) is a rugby province based in the south central South Island, based around Oamaru, New Zealand. ... The Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union was formed in 1890. ... // History The South Canterbury Rugby Football Union (SCRFU) was formed in 1888 when it broke away from the Canterbury Rugby Football Union. ... The Thames Valley Rugby Football Union was formed in 1921 when it broke away from the Auckland Rugby Football Union. ... The Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union was formed in 1971 with the amalgamation of the Wairarapa Rugby Football Union and Bush Rugby Football Union. ... The Wanganui Rugby Football Union was formed in 1888. ... // [edit] History The West Coast Rugby Football Union was formed in 1890. ... SANZAR is an abbreviation of the South African Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and the Australian Rugby Union. ... The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. ... The New Zealand Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in New Zealand. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... SANZAR is an abbreviation of the South African Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and the Australian Rugby Union. ... The Tri Nations Series is an annual international Rugby Union series held between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. ... The current Super 14 logo The Super 14 is a rugby union championship competed for by teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. ... The Blues, formerly the Auckland Blues, are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand, and representing the Northland, North Harbour and Auckland unions. ... The Brumbies (formerly known as the ACT Brumbies, for sponsorship reasons referred to as CA Brumbies) are a Super 14 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberras hinterland. ... The Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Bulls, are a South African rugby union team competing in the Super 14 competition. ... The Central Cheetahs is a South African Super 14 rugby union franchise set to begin play in 2006. ... The Chiefs (formerly known as Waikato Chiefs), are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand, and representing the Counties Manukau, Waikato, Thames Valley, King Country and Bay of Plenty unions; up until 1999 North Harbour which was swapped with the Blues for Counties Manukau. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... Western Force (referred to as Emirates Western Force for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super 14 competition. ... The Highlanders (formerly known as Otago Highlanders), are a rugby union team from New Zealand. ... The Hurricanes (formerly known as the Wellington Hurricanes) are a New Zealand rugby union team based in Wellington and representing the East Coast, Poverty Bay, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wairarapa-Bush, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wellington unions. ... The Lions, known as the Cats through the 2006 season, are a South African rugby union team competing in the Super 14 competition. ... The Queensland Reds (for sponsorship reasons referred to as QR Queensland Reds) represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union. ... The Sharks are a South African Rugby Union team competing in the Super 14 competition (Super 12 from 1996-2005. ... The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as Vodacom Stormers, are a South African rugby union team competing in the Super 14 competition (formerly Super 12). ... Official website www. ... In the history of the Super 12 (1996 - 2005), a SANZAR provincial rugby union competition, there were only three teams which lifted the Super 12 trophy. ... This article is about winners of the expanded Super 14 competition. ... The Tri Nations is contested annually between the Wallabies (Australia), the All Blacks (New Zealand) and the Springboks (South Africa). ...

Contents

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