Super Rugby enters its 30th year when the Highlanders and defending champion Crusaders meet Friday, having proved its durability and adaptability as the premier Southern Hemisphere club competition. When the Hurricanes and Blues met on March 1, 1996 to launch a new tournament involving teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, rugby was newly professional and there was no guarantee the competition would last long in its initial form. It cut across state lines in Australia and provincial lines in New Zealand and South Africa, disrupting established regional fan bases.
Content Original Link:
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/super-rugby-turns-30-hoping-015637471.html