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Pro14: League confirms expansion talks with South Africa

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments159

South African teams Cheetahs and Southern Kings joined the Pro14 for the 2017-18 season
South African teams Cheetahs and Southern Kings joined the Pro14 for the 2017-18 season

Pro14 organisers have confirmed they are in talks about increasing the number of South African teams in the competition.

League bosses also hope South African teams will still join the 2020-21 campaign in the new year.

Cheetahs and Southern Kings have been the two sides involved in the Pro14.

Kings will not be involved in 2020-21 after going into liquidation and negotiations are ongoing about which franchise will take their place.

A Pro14 statement said: "On August 25, Pro14 Rugby acknowledged under current international travel restrictions it is not possible for South African teams to fulfil Guinness Pro14 fixtures until 2021.

"Pro14 Rugby welcomes the news that the South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) has been able to arrange a domestic schedule for its professional teams and that this is the first step in the return of their teams to on-field action.

"SA Rugby's long-standing commitments are to field two teams in the Guinness Pro14 and in light of the withdrawal of the Southern Kings, discussions are on-going about fulfilling this agreement from 2021 using a replacement team from its current professional franchises.

"Additionally, both Pro14 Rugby and SA Rugby are in early discussions about potentially expanding the tournament and deepening our partnership to include more South African franchises from 2021."

The league confirmed in August the South African sides will not play in the Pro14 for the rest of 2020, missing the start of the 2020-21 season, but Pro14 bosses are still negotiating with SA Rugby about involvement in this campaign.

The 12 teams from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy will begin the new campaign with the first round of 11 fixtures not involving the South African sides.

In the longer term, and as a result of significant changes to rugby's global competition structures, the Pro14 is the likely future home for more South African involvement.

When the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby was cut from 18 to 14 teams in 2017, SA rugby's Kings and Cheetahs were the ones to lose out before being welcomed into the what became the Pro14 fold.

In recent months, New Zealand has set out plansexternal-link for its own future path, which does not involve Bulls, Lions, Stormers and Sharks.

Top tiers in English and French rugby involve domestic promotion and relegation, leaving the Pro14 - a competition of franchises, regions and provinces - open to potential expansion.

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159 comments

  • Comment posted by oldfatprop, at 15:06 23 Sep 2020

    They could also recruit Sale they’ve almost got a full team of Saffies.

    • Reply posted by SEVAN7, at 15:08 23 Sep 2020

      SEVAN7 replied:
      They fielded 8 players from WC Final the other day (7 Boks, & Tuilagi) - are their finances all kosha?

  • Comment posted by User0732408180, at 13:27 23 Sep 2020

    I use to be something of a traditionalist when it came to rugby and wanting to preserve the Celtic league. However, in the modern day, this is impossible. It's all about TV revenue now.

    Ideally, my preferred option would be to have a British and Irish League but the English won't go for it. In that case, I think it makes sense to join up with the South Africans. Bring on the Bokke!

    • Reply posted by Andy Malcolm, at 16:41 23 Sep 2020

      Andy Malcolm replied:
      My thoughts exactly - game is not big enough, this proves it - players will love escaping winter mind !

  • Comment posted by Swanseaboy1, at 12:17 23 Sep 2020

    It would, hopefully raise the standard of the Pro 14 league if quality teams from the current world champions are joining. The Welsh regions will need to up their game to compete and at least the Irish provinces will have tougher competition and the finances generated from such a strong Pro 14 can only help the Celtic nations compete with the richer English and French sides in the European cups

  • Comment posted by D1682805935075, at 12:44 23 Sep 2020

    Welcome abroad to the SA teams. Looking forward to seeing them play at Scotstoun, and it may give me the incentive to take a trip to SA to watch Glasgow play there.

  • Comment posted by PWL, at 17:49 23 Sep 2020

    There's a South African team in the English Premiership: they're called Sale.

    • Reply posted by Grand Master T, at 09:00 24 Sep 2020

      Grand Master T replied:
      SALE = South African Légion Étranger.

  • Comment posted by Mum and Dad, at 14:06 23 Sep 2020

    Bok to the future.

    • Reply posted by This name is awaiting moderation, at 15:47 23 Sep 2020

      This name is awaiting moderation replied:
      Nice!

  • Comment posted by scottishjunior, at 12:27 23 Sep 2020

    I think this should be a positive for the league the quality of the South African sides will improve from the Cheetahs and Southern Kings and the increased revenue for the SA teams mean they might be able to hold onto more of their internationals. The geography for them in super rugby made no sense so hopefully it comes together. Increasing the quality of the league can only be a good thing.

  • Comment posted by This name is awaiting moderation, at 15:44 23 Sep 2020

    Just the Jaguares that are going to be stranded now if this goes ahead.

  • Comment posted by GKM, at 16:00 23 Sep 2020

    I don't think we can really blame the Pro 14 for courting the SA sides, it's about financial survival for both the clubs and the league itself.

    The combined population of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland is only around 15 million so the Pro 14 needs larger countries like Italy and S Africa to be involved.

    France and England seem happy on their own so what are the other options?

  • Comment posted by Nona Macres, at 12:19 23 Sep 2020

    The reason super rugby failed was due to geography and the lack of interest playing against teams too often in far away locations. South Africa might have the benefit of playing in a similar time zone but beyond the local rivalries, will they be interested at all in the matches taking place in Europe (and vice versus)

  • Comment posted by theTrinity, at 12:55 23 Sep 2020

    A British and Irish league would be the preferred option. That aside, I think the dominant SA teams would be a fantastic addition. Time difference is not an issue and it would strengthen the league

    • Reply posted by User0732408180, at 13:29 23 Sep 2020

      User0732408180 replied:
      Exactly my feelings. B & I league would be amazing, rivalries and opportunties to get to away matches. Can't see the English going for it though.

  • Comment posted by Bomber, at 12:31 23 Sep 2020

    Great news. Much more money available, just when it's needed. Some great new away trips for the genuine fans. Most importantly, it will raise the standard of the PRO16, or however many it is.

    The league is supposed to start next weekend, October 2nd, but it seems to have gone very quiet. Does anybody know what is happening?

    • Reply posted by fawltyoldboy, at 14:00 23 Sep 2020

      fawltyoldboy replied:
      Right now, the resurgence of the Covid pandemic in the UK & Ireland will determine how all sports proceed.

  • Comment posted by User0732408180, at 13:33 23 Sep 2020

    South African team based in London, playing in Pro16. The London based Bokke would be all over it.

    • Reply posted by Dave, at 20:47 23 Sep 2020

      Dave replied:
      Great idea!

  • Comment posted by User0302385138, at 16:50 23 Sep 2020

    I'm no screaming tree-hugger but isn't expanding a competition in such a way that it involves hundreds of thousands of air-miles going against the flow a bit?

    Besides, what is the optimum size for a Pro14 League? Either some teams are dropped or the league is expanded resulting in many more games at a time when we are also concerned about player welfare.

    Money isn't everything!

    • Reply posted by D1685215375315, at 20:03 23 Sep 2020

      D1685215375315 replied:
      I suppose the argument could be made that all the flights already happen to New Zealand and Australia in the current tournament. Get your point though.

  • Comment posted by Lord Vetinari, at 14:46 23 Sep 2020

    I would love to see the costs of this. How can it be viable for every Pro14 club to fly a whole team and coaches to South Africa and back? Especially in the present financial climate.

  • Comment posted by The Uncomfortable Truth, at 18:50 23 Sep 2020

    If someone like British Airways was sponsoring the league, with cheap flights to and from South Africa, this might make sense but, in the current financial climate, this is a non-starter. Money, as always, be the deciding factor whatever way things go. It is a positive sign however that alternatives are being explored.

  • Comment posted by Reg, at 15:07 23 Sep 2020

    Guess it makes sense.... and although Kings didnt add much to the game value, the Cheetahs started to be competitive. It has proven it makes more sense, time zone reason, to include the S African sides in this tournament than Southern Hemisphere competitions, and I reckon it will attract bigger and stronger SA teams.

    But unfortunately, I wont be paying extra money to subscribe.

  • Comment posted by Llion, at 19:53 23 Sep 2020

    Being a north walian I follow the welsh regions without nailing my colours to any of them. I attend the odd game each season and also went to a couple of Edin games last season as the wife is from Kelso. But the more the competition is ‘messed around with’ the less interested I become. I see myself becoming a Sale fan in future as the competition is more traditional

  • Comment posted by D1682805935075, at 14:17 23 Sep 2020

    Pro14 fixtures for those interested:

    https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/prime-time-monday-night-rugby-comes-to-the-guinness-pro14

    • Reply posted by User0058894063, at 14:50 23 Sep 2020

      User0058894063 replied:
      Phew! Seriously thought it would be called off. Thanks for that. Enjoy the Pro 14/16 or whatever as I believe there is a scope to improve the amount of competition - having just 1/2 teams dominating every year will turn off the fan base and inviting strong SA sides is a good start. As long as it is financially viable, which it might not be?

  • Comment posted by chunky, at 16:09 23 Sep 2020

    Thing is playing in southern hemisphere tournament is difficult as the jet lag for South African sides is crippling. Pro12 is same time zone, so although its a long flight there is no jet lag impact.

    • Reply posted by KingDon, at 17:19 23 Sep 2020

      KingDon replied:
      SA is only 1 hour difference; practically a straight flight down.
      No jet lag. I visit there often and its straight off the plane and on with things

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