Draw and Fixtures for the 2013 Super Rugby Tournament. Kick off times for the following timezones have been included: Greenwich Mean Time, New Zealand time, New South Wales and ACT Australia times, South Africa time and United Kingdom. The first Super Rugby fixture list below is for the local time in which the game kicks off.

This year Super Rugby continues the conference system and lengthened season, and also allows for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. Note that the Australian Super Rugby teams, except the Waratahs, start a week earlier than everyone else.

The tournament breaks …

Super Rugby always takes on a brutal edge as the playoffs loom, and 2012 is no different. Nine sides are technically still vying for a playoff spot and none will be going down without a fight. Epic clashes this weekend includes the Chiefs v Crusaders opener and Sharks v Bulls. However, Reds v Highlanders and Brumbies v Waratahs are all sure to have venom.

The Crusaders will be a wounded beast after last week’s shock loss to the Hurricanes and on the cusp of missing out on the playoffs altogether. The Chiefs, having secured the top NZ spot but wanting …

Crusaders v Chiefs

Crusaders Team:

Israel Dagg, Adam Whitelock, Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Owen Franks.
Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Wyatt Crockett, Tom Donnelly, Matt Todd, Willi Heinz, Tom Taylor, Sean Maitland.

Chiefs Team:

Robbie Robinson, Tim Nanai-Williams, Andrew Horrell, Sonny Bill Williams, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Alex Bradley, Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Craig Clarke (captain), Ben Tameifuna, Mahonri Schwalger, Sona Taumalolo.
Reserves: Hika Elliot, Toby Smith, Romana Graham, Tanerau Latimer, Brendon Leonard, Jackson Willison, Lelia Masaga.…

Super Rugby 2012 returns after a three week break! For the first time in its history Super Rugby took a break for International rugby. Such is the awkwardness of the change, that it’s either round 16 or 19 depending on which rugby draw you look at.

To ease us back in gently there are three teams on a bye, so there are only six games of Super Rugby this weekend. However, there are also a number of juicy local derbies to hit the ground running. Unfortunately, some of the local derbies are against bottom of the table teams, but that’s …

Highlanders v Chiefs

Highlanders Team:

Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Tamati Ellison, Phil Burleigh, Hosea Gear, hris Noakes, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu, Tim Boys, Adam Thomson, Nick Crosswell, Jarrad Hoeata, Ma’afu Fia, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Reserves: Andrew Hore, Chris King, Josh Bekhuis, James Haskell, Jimmy Cowan, Mike Delany, Buxton Popoali’i.

Chiefs Team:

Robbie Robinson, Tim Nanai-Williams, Jackson Willison, Sonny Bill Williams, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Kane Thompson, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Craig Clarke (captain), Ben Tameifuna, Mahonri Schwalger, Toby Smith.
Reserves: Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo, Michael Fitzgerald, Sam Cane, Brendon Leonard, Andrew Horrell, Lelia Masaga.…