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The BBC are reporting today that Super Rugby franchises the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings could be competing in the Pro12 as early as this September.
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Both the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings are expected to be cut from Super Rugby along with at least one Australian franchise.
The South African franchises will learn their fate on July 7th.
However reports from the BBC suggest that they could be integrated into the Pro12 in time for the new season.
What the structure of the new look competition would look like is unclear, but it is speculated that a two conference league could be a solution for an inflated Pro12.
The Pro12 has also held preliminary talks with the German Rugby Union – Deutscher Rugby-Verband (DRV) – about the German national team gaining entry into the league, a move that would appeal to the Pro12 who have made no secret of their desire to expand into new territories and to tap new revenue sources.
When South African rugby stakeholder Tony McKeever revealed in April that he had held discussions with Pro12 CEO Martin Anayi with regards to adding The Cheetahs and Kings to the PRO 12, few took the matter seriously.
However fresh reports today have added fuel to speculation that such a move is both possible and indeed potentially imminent.
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The exact logistics of how a Super Rugby franchise based in South Africa – nearly 10,000km away – could compete in a competition based in Europe are also yet to be explained.
It is widely expected that two of South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises – the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs – are to be culled at the end of the season to streamline the current Super Rugby competition.
