Rugby Superleague
The Rugby Superleague (French: Superligue de rugby) is the highest level of professional rugby union in Kelssek. The competition is governed by the Kelssek Rugby Federation. Each team plays against each other once at home and away per season, with the team at the top of the table being awarded the league championship. The champions and runners-up represent Kelssek in the Rugby Union Challenge Trophy, rugby's main international club competition.
The Superleague is the second most-watched sports competition in Kelssek, after the Kelssek Hockey League.
Teams
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alouettes de Champjaune |  Champjaune |
Stade de la Gerlandie | 31,400 |
| Breton RFC |  Dartmouth |
Pacific Park | 42,700 |
| Burnaby Lions |  Burnaby |
Konoha Place | 54,500 |
| Clayquot Reds |  Clayquot |
Kanard Park | 32,600 |
| Hamilton Highlanders |  Hamilton |
Credit Unions Field | 29,500 |
| Kirkenes Crusaders | Kirkenes |
Sky Dome | 53,200 |
| Latrobe AFC | Latrobe |
Macquarie Docklands | 55,700 |
| Mazinaw Stallions |  Mazinaw |
Whalleysbridge | 35,800 |
| Neorvins Armada |  Neorvins |
Bluefox Stadium | 66,300 |
| Nordiques RFC | Outineau |
Stade Outineau | 81,000 |
| Redswyth Rebels | Redswyth |
Millenium Park | 53,500 |
| Rotor Novonaya |  Novonaya |
Griffin Park | 39,200 |
| Vickery RFC | Vickery |
Commonwealth Stadium | 41,500 |
| Wynleth Cambria | Wynleth-an-Glyndwr |
Wentonweakes | 37,800 |
Rivalries
The Revolutionaries Cup, Merandin Trophy, and the People's Cup are the three pre-existing challenge trophies from the amateur era which were originally contested between the city champions of the respective cities now represented by professional teams. The trophies continue to be awarded according to the aggregate score of the two Superleague matches between the teams.
- Clayquot Reds vs. Latrobe AFC (People's Cup)
- Neorvins Armada vs. Nordiques RFC (Revolutionaries Cup)
- Hamilton Highlanders vs. Kirkenes Crusaders (The Iron Derby)
- Alouettes de Champjaune vs. Nordiques RFC (Derby beaulacois)
- Kirkenes Crusaders vs. Wynleth Cambria ("Dance of Dragons")
- Burnaby Lions vs. Mazinaw Stallions (Merandin Trophy)
Recent seasons
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Burnaby Lions | Neorvins Armada | Glen Eira FC |
| 10 | Kirkenes Crusaders | Latrobe AFC | Burnaby Lions |
| International competitions introduced | |||
| 11 | Nordiques RFC | Mazinaw Stallions | Glen Eira FC |
| 12 | Nordiques RFC | Vickery RFC | Kirkenes Crusaders |
| 13 | Redswyth Rebels | Kirkenes Crusaders | Latrobe AFC |
| 14 | Mazinaw Stallions | Hamilton Highlanders | Neorvins Armada |
| 15 | Redswyth Rebels | Wynleth Cambria | Mazinaw Stallions |
| 16 | Redswyth Rebels | Nordiques RFC | Latrobe AFC |
Media coverage
All Rugby Superleague matches are televised live within Kelssek, and its average viewership is 1.6 million per match. The Superleague is shown on broadcast networks UTV and KBC, and cable network NSN. The national rights to Superleague coverage are held by UTV network, which broadcasts one live match nationwide on Saturday afternoon and two on Sunday evenings. One match not claimed by UTV may then be scheduled on Friday night for the KBC's national broadcast. Remaining matches are shown on NSN on a regional basis. Streaming follows the television rightsholder; in addition the Superleague operates its own pay-to-stream service for viewers outside Kelssek.
