Super Rugby Aotearoa was created in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic and stars New Zealand’s five professional teams.

Super Rugby Aotearoa

S4C has acquired the rights to highlights of Super Rugby Aotearoa’s final seven rounds of fixtures.

S4C will broadcast extended highlights of the weekend’s two matches on Sunday nights at 10pm, with English commentary available via red button.

New Zealand’s five professional teams - Hurricanes, Highlanders, Blues, Chiefs, and reigning champions Crusaders take part in Super Rugby Aotearoa, which was originally created to fill the gap while Super Rugby was paused for the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it is now continuing with its own format of a 10 round robin matches before a final between the top two sides.

Lauren Jenkins will present the matches, with Gareth Charles and Gareth Roberts providing Welsh language commentary. Meanwhile, Sean Holley and Andy Moore are on the English comms. Wales players Rhys Patchell, Gareth Anscombe and former Cardiff Blues number eight, Nick Williams are on match analysis.

The first match will be available to viewers on Sunday 28 March at 10.00pm, with highlights of Highlanders v Hurricanes and Chiefs v Blues. The programmes will also be available to watch on demand on S4C Clic.

Three games into the competition, the Hurricanes are languishing in bottom place after three defeats, while the Highlanders are mid-table with one victory and two losses.