S.AFRICA’S BIG FOUR FOR NEW PRO16?

WALES’ four regions could be tangling with some of the best players on the planet in an expanded Guinness PRO16 as early as next season.

Reports have surfaced in South Africa that the Cheetahs and Southern Kings could find themselves out in the wilderness with the nation’s four Super Rugby franchises making the move to the PRO14.

It would see the Stormers, Bulls, Sharks and Lions join Wales’ four regional sides plus their Irish, Italian and Scottish counterparts in a newlook Guinness PRO16.

Afrikaans newspaper Rapport added there would be no spots for the two current South African sides in the PRO14 – the Cheetahs and Kings.

The report outlined that these changes could take effect from as early as the 2020-21 season and that the Cheetahs and Kings would only remain part of the tournament if it was expanded to 18 teams.

Cheetahs managing director Harold Verster told the newspaper he could not guarantee that his franchise would be still be in the PRO14 by 2022, while a spokesperson for SA

Rugby declined to comment.

This season’s Super Rugby tournament has been halted by the coronavirus pandemic, with New Zealand holding a domestic competition and Australia following suit.

Some of Australian rugby’s key stakeholders have been vocal in their support of a trans-Tasman only competition in future years and want the South Africans and Argentine side Jaguares booted out of Super Rugby.

Other leading ex-players feel the tournament now needs an overhaul to become more appealing to the fans.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has established a committee to examine the future of the tournament.

A move to the northern hemisphere and its similar time zones would make travelling easier for South African teams while they could benefit financially from more sponsorship and a greater television audience in Europe.

There are, however, television deals in place and it would also likely mean the disbanding of Sanzaar, the governing body which oversees proceedings for southern hemisphere rugby.

SA Rugby has contractual agreements with Sanzaar and its partners to field four teams in Super Rugby.

But the PRO14 tournament would get an enormous fillip if big-hitters the Stormers, who Wales and Lions star Jamie Roberts appeared for this year, Sharks, Bulls and Lions were to follow suit.

South African rugby has gone box office since the Springboks powered their way to a third Rugby World Cup win by dismantling England in the Yokohama final last autumn.

Springboks’ World Cup-winning skipper Siya Kolisi and world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit play for the Stormers.

Other World Cup final stars, like Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am, appear for the Sharks.