Officially, the Super Rugby competition began in the year 1996. Initially, the competition started with twelve teams from countries like South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Till the end of 2005 season the competition was well known as Super 12. Later on in the year 2006, the name of the Super Rugby competition was changed to Super 14 with the inclusion of 2 teams for the 2006 season.

With the expansion to the fifteen teams in the 3 countries for the 2011 season, the Super Rugby competition has definitely been rebranded as Super Rugby. By the end of year 2006, the matches were broadcasted in over 41 countries. Before 2011, Super Rugby was played in a round robin competition wherein every team needs to play with every other team once.

Generally, a team had to play 7 or 7 home games and 6 or 7 away games each. The winner of each match receives 4 competition points. On the other hand, when the game ends in a draw, the two contending teams get two points which are awarded to every team.

Bonus points system of the Rugby union was also used where the team scoring 4 or more tries or losing below 7 points attains an additional competition point. The top 4 teams at the ending of the round robin phase then play the semi finals. The first placed contending team hosting the 4^th placed team and the 2^nd placed team host the third placed team. The 2 winners then play the final at the home ground.

On the whole there are ninety one regular season games. The games were held over fourteen weekends with every team attaining one bye. From the year 2011, there was a change of format with every country forming its own conference. Every team within a conference plays every team in its conference twice, once at the home ground and once away. Every team will then play 4 out of 5 team teams from the conference.

At the end of the match, the competition points are awarded. The competition points are calculated on same basis as before. The format of rugby competition has also changed. At present, the final involves a total of 6 contending teams, including the top or leading team in each of the 3 conferences including the 3 next teams with the highest total number of the points regardless of the conference.

Last but not the least; the 4 lower ranking teams are effectively paired in 2 sudden death games. The winners of those 2 games each play one of the 2 top ranked teams.