Highlanders (rugby union) Highlanders (rugby union) The Highlanders (formerly the Otago Highlanders and currently known as the Pulse Energy Highlanders for sponsorship reasons) are 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. The Highlanders take their name from the Scottish immigrants that helped found the Otago, North Otago, and Southland regions in the 1840s and 1850s. Their main ground through the 2011 Super Rugby season was Carisbrook in
Headingley Rugby Stadium the stadium before a crowd of 18,776. The third and deciding Test of the 1978 Ashes series was played at Headingley before a crowd of 30,604. New changing rooms were added in 1991, the same year Leeds RFU were founded and moved into Headingley. In July 1998, Leeds RFU became part of the world's first dual-code rugby partnership, Leeds Rugby Limited. Headingley only hosted one match of the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, held in England and Wales to celebrate the centenary of rugby league in England. Host nation England defeated rugby league minnows South Africa 46–0 in front of