Cape Town – South Africa will have six teams in Super Rugby from 2016, according to SA Rugby Union chief executive Jurie Roux.
There has been a lot of speculation about which Super Rugby format will be adopted by Sanzar from 2016 onwards, as the current broadcasting deal runs until 2015.
But ahead of a Sanzar meeting in Sydney next week, Roux told the Cape Times on Thursday that there were “two basic options” that will be discussed. “There are two basic options on the table – one for a two-conference system and the other a three-conference model. They will be discussed next week, but there are a number of considerations to be taken into account before any final decisions will be taken,” he said.
“What is for certain though is that South Africa will have at least six teams in whatever format is agreed – we have that confirmed already with our partners in Australia and New Zealand.”
Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver told the Sydney Morning Herald this week that a two-conference system – which would see the six South African teams be joined by two teams from Argentina in one conference, and the 10 New Zealand and Australian teams playing in the other – would be a “good option”. The top four teams from each conference would contest a “Finals series”.
“The current model is acceptable, but the other option is not a bad outcome for us either,” Pulver said. “Both are workable from an Australian perspective … If it did evolve to an Australasian conference, that would be a good option.”
The Cape Times understands that there is a third format under consideration that would see three extra teams – one each from South Africa, Argentina and either the Pacific Islands or Japan – join the 15 current sides in an 18-team competition. Every team would play each other once and the conference system would be removed.
It is believed that Saru have also made contact with European rugby bosses about being part of the Heineken Cup if things don’t work out with their Sanzar partners, but that is unlikely to happen as Saru would have less power to secure the best possible deal.
South Africa will be represented in Sydney by Roux and Saru deputy president Mark Alexander. The Herald stated ex-Pumas captain Agustin Pichot, an Argentina Rugby Union board member, will be part of the meeting via telephone.
The Cape Times understands that a final decision on the format could be taken in November following an IRB meeting in Dublin.
There have been rumours that the Southern Kings could be persuaded to not contest Super Rugby promotion next year in favour of being included in an eight-team Currie Cup, but no decision has been made.
Cape Times