Pro12 chiefs eye expansion with SA pair
IT HAS long been mooted but now it seems that the PRO12 have their way — with a bold, controversial expansion move.
Georgia, Germany, Canada and the US had all been spoken about in terms of joining the league — but now it seems it will be two professional teams from South Africa that will be added to the Scottish, Welsh, Irish and Italian clubs already in situ.
Although there has yet to be official confirmation, an agreement is close to bring the Southern Kings, from Port Elizabeth and the Bloemfonteinbased Cheetahs into the league set-up.
Tournament organisers want more television money to close the financial gap with England’s Premiership and the Top14 in france. They believe bringing in the South African sides will open up a new foreign market for live coverage.
If PRO12 organisers have their way, it will end up being as close to a worldwide league as possible.
The inclusion of the South Africans is likely to happen more through luck than design, however.
Both are expected to be cut by the South African rugby union authorities from the Super Rugby competition as the southern hemisphere tournament is reduced from 18 to 15 teams. Australia will also lose a side.
Both the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings have contracted players, have funding in place and want to continue as professional clubs. With nowhere else to go, the approach from the PRO12 came at the perfect time for them.
Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies said nothing had been finalised but welcomed the prospect of the duo joining the PRO12 competition.
‘There are discussions going on, which people are aware of, between the PRO12, the South African rugby union and the franchises down there,’ he told BBC Wales Sport.
‘I think there is a desire from the South African teams to join the PRO12 and I think they would like them to join.
‘The PRO12 is a cross-border competition already and this (proposal) just extends this. It makes for a promising and exciting future if it does happen.
‘At the moment, it looks like the two teams from Super Rugby that will not be in the competition next year will join the PRO12.
‘It just expands the tournament and I think it’s an opportunity to develop the game outwith the northern hemisphere.
‘There is still a lot of work to be done in terms of the legal complexities with issues such as broadcasting, commercial and — most importantly — player welfare with all the travelling that has to be done and the logistics associated with that.’
The logistics of such a move would still be complicated. What has yet to be agreed is whether it will be played as one 14-team league or two conferences of seven. Sportsmail understands that senior SRU figures favour one league of 14 teams, playing home and away, as it would be a more straightforward set-up.
If that proposal does not happen, then it would mean the clubs would split into groups of seven. The first part of the league programme would see teams play each other home and away, producing 12 games.
The second half of the season could see them play each other just once, with six games in total — three at home and three away in an 18-game season.
Regardless, former Scotland and Lions prop Peter Wright believes it is a ‘no-brainer’ to extend the league and cannot understand why people would be against the move.
‘I have heard that the Pro12 could be increased by bringing in another Scottish pro club but, as much as we all would like that to happen, that ship has long sailed,’ said the Boroughmuir head coach.
‘The travelling could be an issue but I am hearing that some of the fixtures involving the South African teams could be played at Saracens’ ground in England.
‘To be honest, the PRO12 needs a boost as it has become a bit boring. You know the Irish, some of the Welsh clubs and Glasgow Warriors will be challenging for the title.
‘Edinburgh have been nowhere for a few years now and the Italian clubs bring hardly anything to the tournament.
‘Bringing in the South African clubs sounds an exciting development to me and should be encouraged.
‘There is more and more money going into the English and french leagues and the clubs in the PRO12 need more cash to keep their best players. New television revenue from South Africa can help them do that.
‘It seems a no-brainer to allow them in. If we don’t, the PRO12 will lag further and further behind the leagues in England and france.’
Wright also believes competing against South African players on a regular basis at club level will help the development of Scottish players.
‘South Africa is a major rugbyplaying nation and our players only face them in international matches,’ added Wright.
‘Coming up against the physical style the South Africans have on a regular basis at club level will make our boys better prepared to take them on in international matches.
‘It will be a bonus for them to take on different players in different environments after years of playing against the Irish, Welsh and Italian sides on familiar grounds.’
There was no comment from the PRO12 league or the SRU on the matter.