The Super 14, Fact and Figures

Fourteen regional teams from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia will compete in the 2007 Super 14 competition.

From 1996-2005, 12 teams played in the Super 12 competition, which began in 1996 after rugby turned professional following the 1995 World Cup.

Prior to that, there was a Super Six tournament involving six teams from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. This was expanded to 10 teams in 1993 when South Africa was readmitted to international sport.

For the Super 14 competition, New Zealand and South Africa each provide five teams while Australia has four.

Teams play each other once, earning four points for a win, two for a draw, plus a bonus point for scoring four tries in a match or losing by less than seven points.

The top four sides advance to the semi-finals, where the first-placed team plays the fourth and second plays third. The two winners advance to the final.

New Zealand teams dominated the Super 12 competition, winning eight of the 10 finals.

The Canterbury Crusaders are the most successful team, winning the title six times, in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006. They also finished runners-up in 2003 and 2004.

The Auckland Blues have won three titles, in 1996, 1997 and 2003. They were runners-up in 1998.

Australia's ACT Brumbies won the title in 2001 and 2004. They were the only team outside of New Zealand to win the competition. The Brumbies were also runners-up in 1997, 2000 and 2002.

The only South African team to reach the final was the Sharks, who were runners-up in 1996 under their previous guise of Natal, and again in 2001.

New Zealand's Otago Highlanders (1999), Australia's New South Wales Waratahs (2005) and New Zealand's Wellington Hurricanes (2006) have all made the final once each.

Queensland (Australia), Waikato, Wellington (both New Zealand), Stormers, Bulls and the Cats (all South Africa) - have made the semi-finals at least once each.

The Central Cheetahs from South Africa and Western Force from Australia were admitted to the competition for the first time last year when it was expanded from 12 to 14 teams. The Johannesburg Cats have changed their name to the Lions for 2007.