| 2016 Super Rugby season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries | Argentina (1 team) Australia (5 teams) Japan (1 team) New Zealand (5 teams) South Africa (6 teams) | ||
| Tournament format(s) | Round-robin and knockout | ||
| Champions | Hurricanes (1st title) | ||
| Matches played | 142 | ||
| Tries scored | 910 (6.41 per match) | ||
| Top point scorer(s) | Beauden Barrett (223) | ||
| Top try scorer(s) | Israel Folau (11) | ||
| Official website | Official site | ||
| |||
The 2016 Super Rugby season was the 21st season of Super Rugby and the first season featuring an expanded 18-team format. It was also the first season that teams outside Australia, New Zealand and South Africa featured, with the Jaguares from Argentina and the Sunwolves from Japan taking part. This season also saw the return of the Kings, who competed just once before, in the 2013 Super Rugby season.[1] The round-robin games took place every weekend from 26 February to 16 July 2016 (with a break for international matches during June), followed by the finals series at the end of July and culminating in the final on 6 August.
The Hurricanes won their first championship after repeating their efforts of 2015 by finishing first in the regular season and hosting the final at Westpac Stadium, but this time they won, beating the Lions 20–3. Unlike 2015, where the Hurricanes looked likely to finish the regular season first with a number of rounds to go, they were sitting in seventh going into the final week of the regular season and while guaranteed a play-off spot, they required a number of upset results to elevate them to first. In particular the Lions losing to the Jaguares and scoring no match points after sending an under-strength side to Argentina, thereby losing their chance to host the final.