Griquas and Pumas have Eurosceptics

● Two more South African teams are likely to play in the Pro14 competition but it won’t be the Griquas or the Pumas.

The two provinces, on whom franchise status was bestowed last season, had hoped to secure passage into the Pro14 from the 2019/20 season.

They may have franchise status but they don’t have the standing in the global game to warrant entry into a prestigious competition. The Currie Cup also-rans are unlikely to measure up to the requirements laid down for entry into the Pro14.

Despite assurances from SA Rugby that a new draft system would spread talent equally around the country, Griquas and the Pumas may still be too unpalatable for European markets.

What is clear though is that the Pro14 will expand. If it were to include more South African involvement, a current Super Rugby entity would be deemed more desirable.

The Pro14’s top brass were reluctant to comment this week, but CEO Martin Anayi told WalesOnline: “We want to keep on expanding. We go through a checklist of main items when it comes to prospective teams and if all the boxes are ticked — the business case, the fan case, the competitive case — we look at it.

“SA makes a lot of sense for us from a structural point of view, so we will definitely look at them again. We have got to grow the league in a way that is sustainable and workable. I think the best number for our competition is 16. Strange as it may sound, that will actually allow us to play less rugby.”

Kings and Cheetahs likely to struggle

The addition of the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings last season brought mixed results. The Kings recorded just one win in their 21 matches, while the Cheetahs crashed upon entry into the play-offs. A player exodus has weakened them considerably this season.

When it was put to SA Rugby president Mark Alexander last week that continued expansion of the Pro14 will dilute the competition in the same way Super Rugby had been, he reached for the positives.

“The biggest problem we face is the distances we have to travel. In this case we only have an overnight flight. We are playing in the same time zone which helps with the broadcast.”

And therein lies the rub. SA Rugby may stand to make more money but should they succeed in foisting Griquas and the Pumas on a European market, the Pro14 will indubitably be poorer for it.