This year’s Super Rugby season has already kicked off, and while the Aussie teams have gotten off to a slow start, hopes are still high that we can turn it around. Rugby Australia and Fox Sports signing a broadcast deal just two days before Super Rugby Aotearoa kicks off means you’ll be able to watch the competition in much the same way you’re used to.

How to watch the Super Rugby 2021 season live online

Foxtel has a wide variety of sports to watch across its channels, but it can be expensive, particularly when you factor in the additional cost of the sports package, which doesn’t come as standard on the most affordable Super Rugby on Foxtel Plus or Foxtel Now subscription.

If you’ve resisted signing up for Foxtel because of its premium price tag, a strong sports-focused alternative is Kayo. The streaming service has access to over 50 sports live and on demand, including every Super Rugby game.

The basic Kayo package is AU$25 a month, giving you practically everything Fox Sports has the broadcast rights to – with the ability to watch on two screens at the same time. There’s a free 14-day trial, and no lock-in contracts so you can cancel any time.

Kayo has some added features such as Split View, which allows you to view up to four streams at once on selected devices; watch today’s match live while catching up with replays of ones you may have missed.

TSN has confirmed that they are now airing Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Super Rugby’s return in limited form, as the New Zealand-based Super Rugby Aotearoa, begins this weekend.

The Land of the Long White Cloud has done such a good job using its geographic isolation, along with an aggressive lockdown approach, that COVID-19 has simply ceased to exist there.

On top of the to-be-expected TV broadcasts, there will be fans in the stadiums when the games kick off between New Zealand’s five Super Rugby teams this weekend.

But whether fans in Canada will be able to watch on their TVs remains unclear.

In normal times, the SANZAAR-run Super Rugby competition is available in Canada through TSN’s online streaming service. The last round played before the whole world went into lockdown, on March 13, was actually aired on TSN’s regular channels. SANZAAR, which was formed in 1996 by the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa rugby boards,  is the body which oversees Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship competitions in Rugby Union

Super Rugby Aotearoa is also run by SANZAAR, so it stands to reason that the rights deal that has brought the world’s best club competition to the Great White North should apply.

But sources has confirmed this isn’t exactly clear. It’s not about TSN, rather it’s about ESPN. The American broadcaster holds the Americas-wide rights to Super Rugby and sub-licences to local broadcasters where necessary, like with TSN. ESPN is a minority owner of Canada’s sports leader.

And ESPN is in talks with SANZAAR about the rights for Super Rugby Aotearoa.

TSN PR has not been able to provide a definitive answer to multiple queries on the matter, simply saying they were looking into it. An email to ESPN PR, asking about the rights situation, has not yet drawn a response.

The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch, who compete in the Super Rugby competition. They have won 10 titles.

After four straight titles, the Crusaders head into 2021 as contenders yet again with an embarrassment of riches across the board. While they only lost six players from last year, they will be without Braydon Enor for the whole Super Rugby Aotearoa season and George Bridge for the first half through injury.

It’s a big loss across the backline, but the Crusaders remain dangerous with Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue and David Havilli remaining alongside Richie Mo’unga and Bryn Hall.

Adding to their squad, Robertson has named four rookies, all of whom have come through the Crusaders academy. It’s a testament to their program and means all four players have trained with the squad before.

Crusaders Super Rugby Aotearoa squads announced

Hookers: Codie Taylor, Andrew Makalio, Brodie McAlister

Props: Joe Moody, Michael Alaalatoa, George Bower, Oliver Jager, Tamaiti Williams, Isi Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell

Locks: Scott Barrett (captain), Sam Whitelock, Mitchell Dunshea, Quinten Strange, Luke Romano

Loose forwards: Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Ethan Blackadder, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Sione Havili, Tom Sanders

Halfbacks: Bryn Hall, Mitchell Drummond, Ere Enari

Flyhalves Richie Mo’unga, Brett Cameron, Fergus Burke

Centres: Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod

Outside backs: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, George Bridge, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Manasa Mataele, Chay Fihaki, Isaiah Punivai

Departures: Fetuli Paea, Billy Harmon, Harry Allan, Inga Finau, Ethan Roots, Matt Todd.

The Highlanders is a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin that compete in Super Rugby. The team was formed in 1996 to represent the lower South Island in the newly formed Super 12 competition, and includes the Otago, North Otago and Southland unions.

Liam Squire’s return to Dunedin is a huge win for a team that had only mixed results in 2020.

Ending his two-year stint in Japan early, Squire’s return will bolster the side and add bruising force up front.

Squire’s joined by Jermaine Ainsley, Solomon Alaimalo, Billy Harmon, Sam Gilbert, Japanese test star Kazuki Himeno and highly experienced prop Josh Hohneck.

Meanwhile the Highlanders backline will have plenty of punch with the return of Thomas Umaga-Jensen who’s transformed himself into a 113kg midfield “best” according to Tony Brown.

Highlanders Super Rugby Aotearoa squads announced

Props: Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jeff Thwaites, Ayden Johnstone, Ethan De Groot, Jermaine Ainsley, Siate Tokolahi, Josh Hohneck

Hookers: Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Ricky Jackson

Locks: Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Manaaki Selby-Rickit , Bryn Evans

Loose forwards: Shannon Frizell, Sione Misiloi, James Lentjes, Billy Harmon, Kazuki Himeno, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Teariki Ben- Nicholas, Liam Squire

Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Folau Fakatava

Flyhalves: Josh Ioane, Mitchell Hunt

Midfielders: Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Patelesio Tomkinson, Michael Collins, Fetuli Paea, Scott Gregory

Outside backs: Jona Nareki, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Vilimoni Koroi, Solomon Alaimalo, Sam Gilbert, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngatungane Punivai

Departures: Dillon Hunt, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Zane Kapeli, Jesse Parete, Jeff Thwaites, Jack Whetton, Tima Fainga’anuku, Bryn Gatland, Kayne Hammington, Chris Kuridrani, Josh McKay, Tevita Nabura, Rob Thompson, Teihorangi Walden.