The Guinness PRO14 have confirmed the new league conferences that will be in place for the next two seasons.
WalesOnline reported last week on how the new structure was set to look at the rejig has now been officially announced by tournament officials.
Conference A and B have remained the same for the first two years of the expanded PRO14 after welcoming the South African sides, but the plan was always to reassess after two seasons.
So this change has been expected but there has been some confusion over how it was going to work.
As it has transpired, teams have been moved based on their points tally at the end of the regular season last season working out as follows.
Conference A
Scotland 1, Ireland 2, Ireland 3, Wales 1, Wales 4, Italy 2, South Africa 1
Conference B
Scotland 2, Ireland 1, Ireland 4, Wales 2, Wales 3, Italy 1, South Africa 2
The restructuring of the conferences means that the fixture list will look slightly different next season too.
Some teams have only played each other once-a-season in the last two years but they will now have home and away fixtures.
The above seeding system has produced the following conferences for the next two seasons...
Conference A: Glasgow Warriors, Leinster, Ulster, Ospreys, Dragons, Zebre, Toyota Cheetahs.
Conference B: Edinburgh Rugby, Munster, Connacht, Cardiff Blues, Scarlets, Benetton Rugby, Isuzu Southern Kings.
