SANZAR boss Greg Peters confirms South Africa will get a sixth Super Rugby franchise
Carly Adno
The Daily Telegraph
September 04, 2013 9:37AM
SOUTH African rugby has been given the go ahead to field a sixth Super Rugby franchise from 2016 onwards.
SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters told SuperSport Blitz that the agreement was reached with South African Rugby Union boss Jurie Roux during a meeting held in Sydney.
"We want to retain Super Rugby as the pre-eminent regional tournament in the southern hemisphere and we want to keep it as one competition," Peters told SuperSport.
"There are various options we are looking at to ensure that, but I can confirm that a sixth team from South Africa has been accepted."
South Africa has been rallying for a sixth team after the Lions were forced to sit out last season's Super Rugby competition to make way for Southern Kings. The Lions have subsequently reclaimed their Super Rugby status through a series of promotion-relegation matches against the Kings.
The format of the tournament will have to change to accommodate a sixth South African franchise and all models are currently being discussed.
It is understood that Argentina are lobbying for the inclusion of an Argentine side in order to strengthen the Pumas for the Rugby Championship, while there's also been a move from New Zealand to add a sixth team.
Peters added that an Asian team might be considered, but a final decision will only be made when it's confirmed what model the tournament will adopt going forward.
The Super Rugby competition is currently made up of 15 teams, five each from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
See more at: http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...2#.UiaiuOyQ9Ms
