BREAKING: Reports Pro12 to become Pro14

BBC Scotland are reporting that the Pro12 will be confirmed as a new Pro14 competition with the entry of the two culled South African Super Rugby franchises.

The BBC report that the deal will be worth in the region of £6 million per year to the league through both TV revenue and through the South African Rugby Union.

Both the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings were officially discarded from the Super Rugby tournament early this month.

While it is yet to be confirmed, it is expected that the new layout will see two conferences of 7 teams, who will play each other both home and away. Each team will play all teams from the other conference at least once, bringing the total number of regular season games to 19.

The top teams from each conference will then play-off against each other to be crowned Pro14 champions.

Just to let you know, there will be the same number of derby games for Wales and Ireland as at present in the newly expanded PRO12/14.

— Simon Thomas Rugby (@simonrug) July 18, 2017

There has however been no confirmation from the Pro12 since the story of an expanded 14 team league was first mooted.

The new deal will see added revenue of approximately £500,000 (€564,000) per club per year, with the prospect of increasing TV and advertising revenue also on the cards as the Pro12 opens up to the South African market.

Both sides played out a thrilling encounter in their final match as Super Rugby teams, which some likened to a defacto audition for a potential Pro14 place.

However, attendances at both sides entering the competition have been relatively poor this season, with the Southern Kings attracting an average attendance of just 7,000. The franchise – which was formed in 2009 – has also battled financial issues.

The more established of the pair – the Cheetahs – were founded in 2005, and their first match saw a capacity attendance of 37,383.

Belting crowd for the Kings v Cheetahs. They'll add significant fan power to the Pro14… pic.twitter.com/lc3QZaSfGr

— Pen (@thepenGW) July 14, 2017