Super Rugby will run uninterrupted for 21 weeks in 2019 with the final being held on 6 July.
This is because there will be no June Tests in 2019, due to the World Cup in Japan later in the year.
There will also be a uniform start to the tournament in round one, with a full round of seven matches to kick off Super Rugby.
The tournament’s 15-team, three-conference format remains the same. Each team plays 16 regular season conference matches that include eight matches within its own conference (home and away) and four matches against teams from each of the other conferences (home or away). Each team also has two byes. This is a total of 120 matches in the regular season that will be followed by the seven-match, eight-team playoffs.
The playoffs will also remain unchanged with each of the three conference winners qualifying for and hosting a quarter-final. The team with the most tournament points that is not a conference winner, regardless of conference, will host the fourth quarter-final. This wildcard team will be joined in the quarter-finals by the next best four wildcard teams based on tournament points and regardless of conference.
