Super Rugby 2019: Fixtures, tickets, format, team lists and how to watch

2019 marks the 24th edition of Super Rugby, an international rugby union competition that spans across Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

This season will be the second year using the reduced 15-team format, which consists of three geographical conferences of five teams.

The Christchurch Crusaders head into the new season as the defending champions and will battle for their third consecutive title. The club currently hold a record nine Super Rugby titles spanning from 1998.

NSW Waratahs were the only team from the Australian conference to qualify for the quarter-finals in 2018, but lost to the Lions in the semi-finals.

The 2019 season will begin on February 15 with the final to be played on Saturday, July 6. The fixture allows plenty of rest and preparation ahead of the Rugby World Cup which takes place in September.

Sporting News has all the information you need ahead of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

HOW TO WATCH SUPER RUGBY

As previously, Fox Sports will broadcast all 120 games live and on demand.

If you don't have Foxtel or want to watch the Super Rugby on the go, Kayo Sports might be the option for you.

The new streaming service uses the Fox Rugby feed. Sign up for Kayo here.

Otherwise, just head to your local pub or club for all the action.

SUPER RUGBY FORMAT 

Super Rugby 2019 will follow the existing format which consists of three conferences in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, each with five teams.

Each team will play 16 home-and away-matches, including eight games against the four teams from their own conference. That means all four Australian teams play each other twice during the regular season.

The winner of each conference earns a guaranteed place in the finals with five additional wildcards given to the next highest teams.

CONFERENCES:

AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE: LIVE LADDER

As of 10.04.19.

SUPER RUGBY LIVE LADDER

As of 10.04.19.

AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE: TEAM LISTS

BRUMBIES

FORWARDS: Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Tom Cusack, Murray Douglas, Blake Enever, Folau Fainga'a, Vunipola Fifita, Ben Hyne, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, Joshua Mann-Rea, Lachlan McCaffrey, Connal McInerney, David Pocock, Tom Ross, Peter Samu, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Darcy Swain,  Rob Valetini

BACKS: Tom Banks, Mack Hansen, Wharenui Hawera, Len Ikitau, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Bayley Kuenzle, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Noah Lolesio, Ryan Lonergan, Matt Lucas, Andy Muirhead, Chance Peni, Joe Powell, Toni Pulu, Irae Simone, Henry Speight, Lausii Taliauli, Tom Wright

INS: Vunipola Fifita, Tom Ross, James Slipper, Murray Douglas, Pete Samu, Bayley Kuenzle, Len Ikitau, Noah Lolesio, Irae Simone, Tom Wright, Toni Pulu

OUTS: Ben Alexander, Mees Erasmus, Nic Mayhew, Faalelei Sione, Robbie Abel, Richie Arnold, Michael Oakman-Hunt (short-term contract), Lolo Fakaosilea, Isi Naisarani, Kyle Godwin, Andrew Smith, James Dargaville, James Verity-Amm

REBELS

FORWARDS: Jermaine Ainsley, Adam Coleman, Angus Cottrell, Ben Daley, Mees Erasmus, Pone Faamausili, Tetera Faulkner, Richard Hardwick,   Ross Haylett-Petty, Luke Jones, Sam Jeffries, Rob Leota, Matt Philip, Isi Naisarani, Anaru Rangi, Hugh Roach, Fereti Saaga, Sam Talakai, Jordan Uelese,  Brad Wilkin

BACKS: Quade Cooper, Tom English, Will Genia, Harrison Goddard, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete,  Jack Maddocks, Campbell Magnay, Billy Meakes, Michael Ruru, Matt To'omua, Sione Tuipulotu, Semisi Tupou

INS: Mees Erasmus, Hugh Roach, Luke Jones, Brad Wilkin, Isi Naisarani, Quade Cooper, Matt To'omua, Campbell Magnay

OUTS: Laurie Weeks, Geoff Parling, Colby Fainga'a, Lopeti Timani, Amanaki Mafi, Jack Debreczeni, Jack McGregor, Dave Horwitz, Henry Hutchison, Sefa Naivalu, Tayler Adams

REDS

FORWARDS: Angus Blyth, Feao Fotuaika, Scott Higginbotham, Harry Hockings, Harry Hoopert, Adam Korczyk, Gavin Luka, Efi Ma'afu, Alex Mafi, Fraser McReight, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Izack Rodda, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Angus Scott-Young, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Caleb Timu, Taniela Tupou, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright

BACKS: Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu, Will Eadie, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Jack Hardy, Bryce Hegarty, Samu Kerevi, Tate McDermott, Matt McGahan, Sefa Naivalu, Duncan Paia'aua, Jordan Petaia, Moses Sorovi, Hamish Stewart,Teti Tela, Aidan Toua, James Tuttle

INS: Gavin Luka, Efi Maafu, Fraser Mcreight, Harry Wilson, Matt McGahan, Jock Campbell, Will Eadie, Sefa Naivalu, Bryce Hegarty 

OUTS: Sef Faagase, James Slipper, Markuz Vanzati, Andrew Ready, Kane Douglas, Michael Gunn, Reece Hewat, George Smith, Quade Cooper, Jono Lance, Ben Lucas, Lachlan Maranta, Eto Nabuli, Jayden Ngamanu, Izaia Perese, Nick Frisby, Karmichael Hunt

SUNWOLVES

INS: Pauliasi Manu, Sam Prattley, Hiroshi Yamashita, Tom Rowe, Mark Abbott, Dan Pryot, Kara Pryor, Hendrik Tui, Sean McMahon, Jamie Booth, Phil Burleigh, Jamie Henry, Rene Ranger

OUTS: Nika Khatiashvili

FORWARDS: Mark Abbott, Asaeli Ai Valu, Jaba Bregvadze, Ben Gunter, Grant Hattingh, Uwe Helu, Kazuki Himeno, Shota Horie, Keita Inagaki, Koo Ji-won, Pieter Labuschagné, Michael Leitch, Pauliasi Manu, Craig Millar, James Moore, Yusuke Niwai, Sam Prattley, Dan Pryor, Kara Pryor, Ed Quirk, Tom Rowe, Atsushi Sakate, Hendrik Tui, Wimpie van der Walt, Hencus van Wyk, Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, Alex Woonton, Hiroshi Yamashita

BACKS: Jamie Booth, Phil Burleigh, Jason Emery, Kenki Fukuoka, Shane Gates, Jamie Henry, Lomano Lemeki, Michael Little, Semisi Masirewa, Rikiya Matsuda, Yutaka Nagare, Ryoto Nakamura, Hayden Parker, Rene Ranger, Hosea Saumaki, Kaito Shigeno, Fumiaki Tanaka, Will Tupou, Keisuke Uchida, Gerhard van den Heever

WARATAHS

INS: Rory O'Connor, Le Roux Roets, John Folau, Karmichael Hunt

OUTS: Paddy Ryan, Matt Sandell, Kalivate Tawake, Hugh Roach, Kelly Meafua, Brad Wilkin, Mick Snowden (short-term), Irae Simone, Andrew Kellaway, Taqele Naiyaravoro

FORWARDS: Angus Bell, Jack Dempsey, BJ Edwards, Damien Fitzpatrick, Ned Hanigan, Will Harris, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu • Ryan McCauley, Will Miller, Rory O'Connor, Le Roux Roets, Tom Robertson, JP Sauni, Rob Simmons, Hugh Sinclair, Tom Staniforth, Rory Suttor, Lachlan Swinton, Patrick Tafa, Chris Talakai, Andrew Tuala, Shambeckler Vui, Cody Walker, Michael Wells, Jeremy Williams

BACKS: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Cameron Clark, Ben Donaldson, Lalakai Foketi, Israel Folau, John Folau, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon, Will Harrison, Karmichael Hunt, Mack Mason, Alex Newsome, Nick Phipps, James Ramm, Curtis Rona, Mitch Short

HOW TO GET TICKETS FOR SUPER RUGBY

As there is no central ticketing website or company to purchase Super Rugby tickets, each franchise handles their own sales.

Click on the links below to get tickets for the Australian conference.

ACT Brumbies tickets: HERE

Queensland Reds tickets: HERE

Melbourne Rebels tickets: HERE

NSW Waratahs tickets: HERE

Japan Sunwolves: HERE

SUPER RUGBY 2019 DRAW

The 2019 Super Rugby season will get underway on Friday, February 15, with the regular season ending on Monday, June 17.

This year the competition has been shortened to 18 weeks instead of 19. Unlike last year, there will be no South African-only round to kick off the season.

The finals will begin with the qualifying finals on Saturday, June 22, while the final will be played on Saturday, July 6.

Super Rugby 2019 - RETURNS FEB 15#SuperRugby #SR2019 pic.twitter.com/IXNjwuoryk

— Super Rugby (@SuperRugby) January 28, 2019

All times are in AEDT/AEST.

ROUND 1

BYE: Reds

ROUND 2

BYE: Rebels

ROUND 3

BYE: Waratahs

ROUND 4

BYE: Stormers

ROUND 5

BYE: Bulls, Sharks, Blues

ROUND 6

BYE: Jaguares

ROUND 7

BYE: Lions, Brumbies, Highlanders

ROUND 8

BYE: Chiefs

ROUND 9

BYE: Sunwolves, Waratahs, Hurricanes

ROUND 10

BYE: Bulls, Jaguares, Crusaders

ROUND 11

BYE: Rebels, Reds, Blues

ROUND 12

BYE: Lions

ROUND 13

BYE: Stormers

ROUND 14

BYE: Sharks, Sunwolves, Brumbies

ROUND 15

BYE: Hurricanes

ROUND 16

BYE: Highlanders

ROUND 17

BYE: Chiefs

ROUND 18

BYE: Crusaders

QUALIFYING FINALS

SEMI FINALS

GRAND FINAL