# 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa season

The 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa season (branded as Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa for sponsorship reasons) was a domestic club rugby union tournament organised by New Zealand Rugby. It was a 10-week, round robin tournament played by the five New Zealand-based teams of Super Rugby. The competition supplanted the 2020 Super Rugby season, which was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Announced on 6 May, the competition ran from 13 June to 14 August, making it the first professional rugby union competition to occur since the beginning of the pandemic. On 8 June, with most non-travel restrictions relating to the pandemic having been lifted in New Zealand (Alert Level 1), it was announced that the matches would be played with spectators admitted, making it among the first professional sporting events not played behind closed doors since the beginning of the pandemic's global spread.
Due to the reinstatement of restrictions nationally on 11 August after new cases of community transmission, one match in the final round was played behind closed doors, and the other was cancelled due to Alert Level 3 in Auckland and declared a 0–0 draw — resulting in the Crusaders clinching the tournament championship.
With New Zealand border restrictions and managed isolation requirements not easing despite the country back in level 1 alert level as of October 11, 2020, Super Rugby Aotearoa and Australia will return in 2021, and Super Rugby Aotearoa will by sponsored by Sky New Zealand. There will be an increase of Sunday afternoon fixtures, which proved popular in 2020.

## Law adaptions

On 2 June, New Zealand Rugby announced that it would implement two optional law trials being offered by World Rugby, including a golden point format for extra time, and that players who receive a red card can be substituted after 20 minutes. It was also stated that referees would be stricter in applying laws for breakdowns to increase the pace of play.

## Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Crusaders | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 219 | 148 | +71 | 27 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 30 |
| 2 | Blues | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 176 | 149 | +27 | 23 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 24 |
| 3 | Hurricanes | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 202 | 213 | −11 | 25 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| 4 | Highlanders | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 197 | 227 | −30 | 23 | 34 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| 5 | Chiefs | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 155 | 212 | −57 | 14 | 28 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
* 4 competition points to the winning team
* 0 competition point to the losing team
* 2 competition points to each team for a draw
* 1 competition point as the Try Bonus, to the team that scores at least three tries more than their opponents
* 1 competition point as the Loss Bonus, to the team that loses by fewer than 8 points

## Matches
### Round 1

* 13 June 2020 19:05
| Highlanders | 28–27 | Chiefs (1 BP) |
| Try: A. Dixon 16' m Tomkinson 22' c Mikaele-Tu'u 39' c Con: M. Hunt (2/3) 23', 40+1' Pen: M. Hunt (2/2) 3', 60' Drop: Gatland (1/1) 79' | Report | Try: Wainui 27' c A. Lienert-Brown 72' m Con: McKenzie (1/2) 29' Pen: McKenzie (4/4) 9', 14', 32', 47' Drop: McKenzie (1/1) 78' |
* Forsyth Barr Stadium Attendance: 18,218 Referee: Paul Williams
* 14 June 2020 15:35
| Blues | 30–20 | Hurricanes |
| Try: Clarke 12' c Faiane 19' c Papalii 50' c Con: Black (3/3) 14', 20', 52' Pen: Black (3/3) 55', 59', 66' | Report | Try: Coles 15' m Lam 26' m Booth 78' c Con: Perenara (1/1) 78' Pen: Garden-Bachop (1/1) 9' |
* Eden Park Attendance: 36,700 Referee: Mike Fraser

### Round 2

* 20 June 2020 19:05
| Chiefs | 12–24 | Blues |
| Pen: McKenzie (4/5) 12', 21', 40'+1, 57' | Report | Try: Sotutu 15' c Tele'a 72' m Con: Black (1/1) 15' Pen: Black (2/3) 37', 53' Barrett (1/1) 69' Drop: Barrett (1/1) 64' |
* FMG Stadium Waikato Attendance: 23,874 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
* 21 June 2020 15:35
| Hurricanes | 25–39 | Crusaders (1 BP) |
| Try: Aumua 63' c Con: Garden-Bachop (1/1) 64' Pen: Garden-Bachop (5/5) 7', 18', 28', 36', 45' Drop: Garden-Bachop (1/1) 31' | Report | Try: Reece 1' c Ennor 14' m Goodhue 31' c Mo'unga 69' c D. Havili 75' c Con: Mo'unga (4/5) 3', 32', 70', 76' Pen: Mo'unga (2/3) 50', 58' |
* Sky Stadium Attendance: 17,606 Referee: Brendon Pickerill

### Round 3

* 27 June 2020 19:05
| Blues | 27–24 | Highlanders (1 BP) |
| Try: Clarke 6' c Papalii (2) 23' c, 58' m R. Ioane 28' m Con: Black (2/4) 8', 24' Pen: Black (1/1) 15' | Report | Try: A. Dixon 11' c M. Hunt 44' c Frizell 53' c Con: M. Hunt (3/3) 12', 46', 55' Pen: M. Hunt (1/2) 21' |
* Eden Park Attendance: 23,800 Referee: Paul Williams
* 28 June 2020 15:35
| Crusaders | 18–13 | Chiefs (1 BP) |
| Try: Jordan (2) 33' c, 46' m Con: Mo'unga (1/2) 34' Pen: Mo'unga (2/2) 10', 60' | Report | Try: Wainui 65' c Con: McKenzie (1/1) 66' Pen: McKenzie (2) 24', 70' |
* Orangetheory Stadium Attendance: 12,000 Referee: James Doleman

### Round 4

* 4 July 2020 19:05
| Highlanders | 20–40 | Crusaders (1 BP) |
| Try: Frizell 19' c Punivai 25' c Con: M. Hunt (2/2) 20', 25' Pen: M. Hunt (2/2) 40+1', 57' | Report | Try: Jordan (2) 15' m, 80' c Christie (2) 50' c, 77' c Reece 60' m Con: Mo'unga (3/5) 51', 78', 80+2' Pen: Mo'unga (3/4) 10', 31', 35' |
* Forsyth Barr Stadium Attendance: 19,875 Referee: Mike Fraser
* 5 July 2020 15:35
| (1 BP) Chiefs | 18–25 | Hurricanes |
| Try: Penalty try 64' Boshier 77' m Pen: McKenzie (2/2) 17', 42' | Report | Try: van Wyk (2) 4' c, 60' m Kirifi 38' c Con: Barrett (2/3) 5', 39' Pen: Barrett (2/2) 35', 40' |
* FMG Stadium Waikato Attendance: 15,031 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe

### Round 5

* 11 July 2020 19:05
| Crusaders | 26–15 | Blues |
| Try: Drummond 61' c Jordan 75' c Con: Mo'unga (2/2) 62', 77' Pen: Mo'unga (4/4) 28', 31', 48', 67' | Report | Try: Tele'a 10' c R. Ioane 55' m Con: Black (1/2) 12' Pen: Black (1/1) 46' |
* Orangetheory Stadium Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Paul Williams
* 12 July 2020 15:35
| Hurricanes | 17–11 | Highlanders (1 BP) |
| Try: Perenara 28' c van Wyk 36' m Flanders 48' m Con: Barrett (1/3) 29' | Report | Try: A. Smith 58' m Pen: M. Hunt (2/3) 51', 80' |
* Sky Stadium Attendance: 14,728 Referee: Brendon Pickerill

### Round 6

* 18 July 2020 19:05
| Hurricanes | 29–27 | Blues (1 BP) |
| Try: Laumape 4' c Prinsep 34' m Coles 44' c Aumua 76' c Con: Barrett (3/4) 5', 45', 77' Pen: Barrett (1/2) 40+3' | Report | Try: Barrett 10' c Papalii 29' m Ioane 57' c Eklund 63' m Con: Black (1/2) 11' Barrett (1/2) 59' Pen: Black (1/1) 2' |
* Sky Stadium Attendance: 18,517 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
* 19 July 2020 15:35
| (1 BP) Chiefs | 31–33 | Highlanders |
| Try: Boshier 5' c A. Lienert-Brown 11' c Slater (2) 21' c, 42' c Con: McKenzie (4/4) 6', 12', 22', 43' Pen: McKenzie (1/1) 15' | Report | Try: Mikaele-Tu'u 30' c M. Hunt 47' m A. Smith 56' c Nareki 75' c Tomkinson 80+2' c Con: M. Hunt (4/5) 31', 57', 76', 80+3' |
* FMG Stadium Waikato Attendance: 10,713 Referee: Mike Fraser

### Round 7

* 25 July 2020 19:05
| (1 BP) Crusaders | 32–34 | Hurricanes |
| Try: Mo'unga 17' c Bridge 31' c Strange 68' c Reece 76' m Con: Mo'unga (3/4) 18', 33', 69' Pen: Mo'unga (2/2) 12', 47' | Report | Try: Goosen (2) 23' c, 35' m Umaga-Jensen 62' c Con: Barrett (2/3) 24', 63' Pen: Barrett (5/5) 9', 30', 40+2', 59', 75' |
* Orangetheory Stadium Attendance: 15,000 Referee: James Doleman
* 26 July 2020 15:35
| Blues | 21–17 | Chiefs (1 BP) |
| Try: Duffie 6' c Tuipulotu 14' c Christie 55' c Con: Barrett (3/3) 8', 15', 55' | Report | Try: Boshier 20' c Alaimalo 46' c Con: McKenzie (2/2) 21', 48' Pen: McKenzie (1/1) 51' |
* Eden Park Attendance: 28,600 Referee: Brendon Pickerill

### Round 8

* 1 August 2020 19:05
| Chiefs | 19–32 | Crusaders (1 BP) |
| Try: Boshier 22' c Con: McKenzie 23' Pen: McKenzie (4/5) 26', 43', 50', 56' | Report | Try: Sanders 7' m Jordan 14' c Taylor 40+1' m Reece 61' c Fainga'anuku 67' m Con: Mo'unga (2/5) 15', 61' Pen: Mo'unga (1/2) 52' |
* FMG Stadium Waikato Attendance: 15,082 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
* 2 August 2020 15:35
| Highlanders | 21–32 | Blues (1 BP) |
| Try: Dixon 20' c Frizell 76' m Con: Ioane (1/2) 21' Pen: Ioane (3/3) 15', 30', 36' | Report | Try: Ioane 7' m Christie (2) 10' c, 43' m Faiane 31' m Tu'ungafasi 40' c Con: Barrett (2/5) 12', 40+1' Pen: Barrett (1/1) 56' |
* Forsyth Barr Stadium Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Mike Fraser

### Round 9

* 8 August 2020 19:05
| (1 BP) Hurricanes | 31–18 | Chiefs |
| Try: Umaga-Jensen (2) 7' c, 27' m Coles 50' m van Wyk 57' c Proctor 73' c Con: Barrett (3/5) 8', 58', 74' | Report | Try: Wainui 44' c Karpik 65' m Con: McKenzie (1/2) 45' Pen: McKenzie (2/3) 25', 53' |
* Sky Stadium Attendance: 20,317 Referee: James Doleman
* 9 August 2020 15:35
| Crusaders | 32–22 | Highlanders |
| Try: Mo'unga 13' c Bridge (2) 61' c, 64' m Ennor 75' c Con: Mo'unga (3/4) 14', 63', 76' Pen: Mo'unga (2/2) 29', 40+1' | Report | Try: Frizell 2' c Nareki 24' c Collins 54' m Con: Ioane (2/3) 3', 26' Pen: Ioane (1/2) 22' |
* Orangetheory Stadium Attendance: 17,500 Referee: Paul Williams

### Round 10

* 15 August 2020 19:05
| Highlanders | 38–21 | Hurricanes |
| Try: Punivai 10' c A. Dixon 33' c Collins 46' c Penalty try 56' M. Hunt 61' c Con: Ioane (3/3) 11', 34', 47' M. Hunt (1/1) 62' Pen: Ioane (1/1) 44' | Report | Try: Aso 5 c' Booth 29' c Umaga-Jensen 73' c Con: Barrett (3/3) 6', 29', 73' |
* Forsyth Barr Stadium Attendance: No spectators admitted Referee: Brendon Pickerill
* 16 August 2020 15:35
| Blues | 0–0 | Crusaders |
* Eden Park
On 14 August, due to restrictions being reintroduced nationwide after new cases of community transmission (with Alert Level 3 in effect in Auckland and thus prohibiting all events, and all other regions under Alert Level 2), the penultimate match between the Highlanders and Hurricanes was played behind closed doors, and the final match between the Blues and Crusaders was cancelled and declared a draw (with both teams awarded two points on the final standings).

## Players
### Squads

Blues squad :
| Forwards | Aaron Carroll • Gerard Cowley-Tuioti • Kurt Eklund • Blake Gibson • Josh Goodhue • Alex Hodgman • Akira Ioane • Tony Lamborn • Ezekiel Lindenmuth • Sione Mafileo • Dalton Papalii • James Parsons • Jacob Pierce • Marcel Renata • Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa • Tom Robinson • Hoskins Sotutu • Luteru Tolai • James Tucker • Karl Tu'inukuafe • Patrick Tuipulotu • Ofa Tu'ungafasi |
| Backs | Beauden Barrett • Otere Black • Dan Carter • Finlay Christie • Caleb Clarke • Matt Duffie • TJ Faiane • Jack Heighton • Jordan Hyland • Rieko Ioane • Joe Marchant • Emoni Narawa • Sam Nock • Jared Page • Stephen Perofeta • Harry Plummer • Jonathan Ruru • Mark Tele'a • Tamati Tua |
| Coach | Leon MacDonald |
Chiefs squad :
| Forwards | Naitoa Ah Kuoi • Michael Allardice • Tyler Ardron • Lachlan Boshier • Mitchell Brown • Sam Cane • Rob Cobb • Ryan Coxon • Ross Geldenhuys • Nathan Harris • Luke Jacobson • Mitchell Karpik • Nepo Laulala • Donald Maka • Laghlan McWhannell • Atu Moli • Dylan Nel • Ollie Norris • Reuben O'Neill • Simon Parker • Aidan Ross • Bradley Slater • Pita Gus Sowakula • Angus Ta'avao • Samisoni Taukei'aho • Adam Thomson • Tupou Vaa'i |
| Backs | Solomon Alaimalo • Aaron Cruden • Tiaan Falcon • Orbyn Leger • Anton Lienert-Brown • Tumua Manu • Damian McKenzie • Sam McNicol • Lisati Milo-Harris • Kini Naholo • Etene Nanai-Seturo • Alex Nankivell • Shaun Stevenson • Bailyn Sullivan • Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi • Kaleb Trask • Quinn Tupaea • Sean Wainui • Brad Weber |
| Coach | Warren Gatland |
Crusaders squad :
| Forwards | Michael Alaalatoa • Harry Allan • Scott Barrett • Ethan Blackadder • George Bower • Tom Christie • Whetu Douglas • Mitchell Dunshea • Cullen Grace • Billy Harmon • Sione Havili • Oliver Jager • Andrew Makalio • Brodie McAlister • Joe Moody • Luke Romano • Ethan Roots • Tom Sanders • Quinten Strange • Codie Taylor • Isi Tu'ungafasi • Sam Whitelock |
| Backs | George Bridge • Fergus Burke • Brett Cameron • Mitchell Drummond • Ere Enari • Braydon Ennor • Inga Finau • Leicester Fainga'anuku • Jack Goodhue • Bryn Hall • David Havili • Will Jordan • Manasa Mataele • Dallas McLeod • Richie Mo'unga • Fetuli Paea • Sevu Reece |
| Coach | Scott Robertson |
Highlanders squad :
| Forwards | Teariki Ben-Nicholas • Liam Coltman • Ethan de Groot • Josh Dickson • Ash Dixon • Tom Florence • Shannon Frizell • Dillon Hunt • Josh Iosefa-Scott • Ricky Jackson • Ayden Johnstone • Zane Kapeli • Daniel Lienert-Brown • Marino Mikaele-Tu'u • Sione Misiloi • Jesse Parete • Pari Pari Parkinson • Manaaki Selby-Rickit • Jeff Thwaites • Siate Tokolahi • Jack Whetton |
| Backs | Michael Collins • Folau Fakatava • Connor Garden-Bachop • Bryn Gatland • Sam Gilbert • Scott Gregory • Kayne Hammington • Mitchell Hunt • Josh Ioane • Vilimoni Koroi • Kirisi Kuridrani • Josh McKay • Nehe Milner-Skudder • Tevita Nabura • Jona Nareki • Ngane Punivai • Aaron Smith • Rob Thompson • Sio Tomkinson • Thomas Umaga-Jensen• Teihorangi Walden |
| Coach | Aaron Mauger |
Hurricanes squad :
| Forwards | Fraser Armstrong • Asafo Aumua • James Blackwell • Dane Coles • Gareth Evans • Alex Fidow • Vaea Fifita • Devan Flanders • Du'Plessis Kirifi • Kane Le'aupepe • Tyrel Lomax • Tevita Mafileo • Ben May • Liam Mitchell • Xavier Numia • Reed Prinsep • Pouri Rakete-Stones • Ricky Riccitelli • Ardie Savea • Scott Scrafton • Murphy Taramai • Isaia Walker-Leawere |
| Backs | Vince Aso • Jordie Barrett • Jamie Booth • Jackson Garden-Bachop • Wes Goosen • Simon Hickey • Ben Lam • Ngani Laumape • Jonah Lowe • TJ Perenara • Billy Proctor • Salesi Rayasi • Julian Savea • Fletcher Smith • Jonathan Taumateine • Chase Tiatia • Danny Toala • Peter Umaga-Jensen • Kobus van Wyk |
| Coach | Jason Holland |