The future makeup of the Pro12 will become clearer on Friday with the South Africa Rugby Union ready to confirm the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs will be cut from Super Rugby.
The two franchises have been expected to make way as Super Rugby is reduced from 18 to 15 teams and it is understood representatives from Saru, including the president, Mark Alexander, have visited both this week to discuss their fate.
That would pave the way for them to join the Pro12 as early as the new season, a radical move by the Celtic League but one that on face value suits all parties. The Pro12 has for a while sought expansion to boost revenues and admitting the Cheetahs and the Kings would significantly increase TV income. The main sponsor Guinness would also relish the opportunity to expand in Africa.
For the South African franchises, joining the Pro12 makes sense. The cumulative investment in both over the past 10 years is around £45m and soon they will be left with no competition to play in, not to mention empty stadiums in Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein.
There is also the sense that South Africa have become the poor relation within Super Rugby. That expansion into Argentina and Japan was done in the interests of New Zealand and Australia but the competition has faltered as a result. Joining the Pro12 and playing in countries with a similar time zone is therefore an attractive proposal with TV audiences and attendances significantly down in South Africa at present.
As the former chief executive of the Southern Spears Tony McKeever said: “Super Rugby is an incoherent tournament and supporters have voted with their feet and their eyeballs. They are not watching because the product has gone stale.
“Local school derbies in South Africa attract more people than the last 10 Super Rugby games. [Joining the Pro12] will create an extraordinary dynamism and really put this tournament on a global stage that will absolutely outrival Super Rugby. You can hear the death knell of Super Rugby, it’s going to expire.”
But as much as the move may suit all parties in the short-term – Celtic Rugby Limited is owned by the four parent unions and both the Wales Rugby Union and the Italian federation have publicly warmed to the idea – there are myriad hoops to jump through before next season’s Pro12 begins in early September.
It is understood the Pro12 does not intend to make any imminent announcements but time is of the essence. While there have been reports of negotiations going on behind the scenes, legally, the Pro12 is prohibited from officially engaging with broadcasters or sponsors until the announcement in South Africa but the season is due to start in less than two months.
The Kings and the Cheetahs conclude their Super Rugby season – as fate would have it against each other – on 14 July, after which the majority of their players are out of contract. The Guardian understands the Cheetahs have called a meeting for Friday with all their contracted players to outline their futures. And for the Kings, the situation is even more complex. While the Cheetahs franchise is owned by Free State Rugby, Saru effectively oversees the Kings after the Eastern Province Rugby Union was beset by financial difficulties in 2015 and went into liquidation last year.
Furthermore, there is an agreement between Saru and the South Africa Rugby Players’ Association which effectively guarantees a month off in December – slap bang in the middle of the Pro12 season. With both franchises needing to finalise new-look playing squads before September – and both reportedly under pressure from the Pro12 to attract South Africa internationals (the Pro12 does not want is another couple of also-rans and at present they are the two weakest teams in South Africa) – time is again an issue.
Having said that, there is a sense that South African players would welcome the move and compared to Australia and New Zealand there is a far greater player base to pick from. There is a significant number already playing in the Pro12 and there is a growing sense of disillusionment with Super Rugby. Attracting internationals or more recognised players from the Bulls, the Sharks, the Lions and the Stormers may not be as difficult as first imagined.
The logistics of the new-look tournament must also be resolved. A two-conference structure of seven teams has been proposed and would see the two South African franchises play their away matches in clusters. Qualification for the two European tournaments also needs addressing and it is unclear whether there is the appetite from the Kings and the Cheetahs to participate. If there is, a proposal would have to be put to European Professional Club Rugby’s executive board and it would be judged on merit. There are more pressing issues at hand however, some of which will become clearer on Friday.
