SANZAR has clarified how the Super Rugby Finals Series qualifiers will be decided in the event that two or more teams finish the Super Rugby regular season on equal log points.

The final round of regular season play takes place this weekend with several places in the Finals Series to be decided.

The Super Rugby “tie-breaker” Regulations, as amended and released in March 2011, are:

In the event that two or more teams are equal on points in any position on either the Conference or overall Super Rugby standings at any time during the regular season their ranking will be determined as follows:

•    Most wins from all matches

•    Highest aggregate points difference from all matches

•    Most tries from all matches

•    Highest aggregate difference in tries for and against from all matches

•    Coin toss (only used to determine Finalists)

The regulations contained in the 2011 Super Rugby Media Guide, and which it appears are still being applied by some media outlets, were published prior to revisions being made and are therefore no longer valid. The revised regulations were widely circulated by SANZAR to media in early March 2011.

The three Super Rugby Conference winners and three “wildcard” qualifiers will advance to the Finals Series.

The teams ranked 1 and 2 will have a bye in the first round of the Finals Series whilst the teams ending in places 3 to 6 will play-off in Qualifiers on the following basis – 3 vs 6 and 4 v 5.

The winners of the Qualifiers will advance to the Semi-Finals where they will face one of the top two teams. In the Semi-Finals, the team ranked 1 will face the lowest ranked team to advance from the Qualifiers whilst the team ranked 2 will face the highest ranked team to advance from the Qualifiers