While no teams have been mentioned, only South Africa's top four, the Bulls, Stormers, Lions, and Sharks, could realistically compete in the PRO14. South Africa rugby body SA Rugby didn't immediately comment on PRO14's announcement. PRO14's first challenge is to replace the Southern Kings, who have withdrawn from all competitions after going out of business during the coronavirus pandemic. CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Europe’s PRO14 rugby league is in “early discussions” to add more South African teams next year, it said Wednesday, which might lead to the break up of the southern hemisphere’s Super Rugby competition. JOIN THE XV. Teams Teams; Tables Tables; ICC Rankings ICC Rankings; Stats Stats; Guinness PRO14 Standings - 2020. While no teams have been mentioned, only South Africa's top four, the Bulls, Stormers, Lions, and Sharks, could realistically compete in the PRO14. New Zealand Rugby has already been making plans for a new competition, excluding the South African teams and possibly without the Australian teams also, but including a Pacific Islands team. Europe's PRO14 rugby league is in “early discussions” to add more South African teams next year, it said Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 which might lead to the break up of the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby competition. (AP Photo/Joseph Nair, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Access Free 30 Day Trial to Ad Free Rugby Content on The XV Now . Benetton was selected for its long history after the project of a second Italian regional team, Praetorians Roma, failed. PRO14′s first challenge is to replace the Southern Kings, which have withdrawn from all competitions after going out of business during the coronavirus pandemic. A move away by South Africa’s leading domestic teams might also be a precursor for the world champion Springboks to abandon the annual Rugby Championship — and games against the New Zealand, Australia and Argentina national teams — and play, instead, in Europe’s Six Nations. Teams from Argentina and Japan were brought into Super Rugby in recent years to join South African, New Zealand and Australian franchises in an attempt to expand rugby's reach. Super Rugby’s latest television rights deal expires this year, giving South African teams a logical window to leave. But those moves also increased the travel load for teams and the complications in finding the fairest way to decide who actually wins a tournament that is played on three continents. A replacement South African team would need to be brought in for next season, PRO 14 said. The Pro14 returns on Friday after a long hiatus, but can you name each of its teams? PRO14 organisers have confirmed that the tournament will proceed without the Cheetahs and Kings until next year due to travel restrictions brought about by Covid-19. Super Rugby's latest television rights deal expires this year, giving South African teams a logical window to leave. Premium Rugby Content, Ad Free . Look at the players, fixtures, results and latest news for all teams here. Teams from Argentina and Japan were brought into Super Rugby in recent years to join South African, New Zealand and Australian franchises in an attempt to expand rugby’s reach. But there have been regular rumours in recent years that South Africa would prefer to play against European clubs because of similar time zones and a less-grueling travel schedule, and also the opportunity to make more money through bigger TV audiences. But it added: “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.". Conference A GP W D L … Two of South Africa's smaller teams, the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs and Port Elizabeth-based Southern Kings, joined the PRO14 in 2017, making it a 14-team league. There are also four teams from Ireland, four from Wales, two from Scotland and two from Italy in the PRO 14. If any — or all — of them left Super Rugby it would be a body blow to the southern hemisphere club championship, which has been consistently restructured in an attempt to find the best format. View all of the official teams taking part in the Guinness Pro14 Rugby Tournament. Find out which rugby union teams are leading the pack or at the foot of the table in the Guinness Pro14 on BBC Sport Click here for the latest club news. FILE - In this March 4, 2017 file photo, Christopher Anthony Cloete of the Southern Kings holds on to the ball during their Super Rugby match against Japan's Sunwolves, in Singapore. South Africa’s Super Rugby teams are making plans to join the Pro 14. A replacement South African team would need to be brought in for next season, PRO 14 said. South Africa is by far the biggest television audience for Super Rugby. The league is based on regionalised, provincial and franchise representation of the participating nations, except for Benetton which represents the city of Treviso itself. PRO14 is an annual rugby union competition involving teams from Ireland, Scotland, Italy, South Africa and Wales. Rugby ... Guinness PRO14. Europe's PRO14 rugby league is in “early discussions” to add more South African teams next year, it said Wednesday, which might lead to the break up of Super Rugby. But those moves also increased the travel load for teams and the complications in finding the fairest way to decide who actually wins a tournament that is played on three continents. 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But there have been regular rumors in recent years that South Africa would prefer to play against European clubs because of similar time zones and a less-grueling travel schedule, and also the opportunity to make more money through bigger TV audiences. Cheetahs scrumhalf Shaun Venter against the Kings. PRO14 to proceed with 12 teams until 2021. There is not enough time for every team to play the other at home and away. South Africa is by far the biggest television audience for Super Rugby. If any, or all of them left Super Rugby it would be a body blow to the southern hemisphere club championship, which has been consistently restructured in an attempt to find the best format. While no teams have been mentioned, only South Africa’s top four, the Bulls, Stormers, Lions, and Sharks, could realistically compete in the PRO14. The teams are all in for this weekend's round two action in the Guinness PRO14 following a week in which Ireland, Wales and Italy named Six Nations squads. Two of South Africa’s smaller teams, the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs and Port Elizabeth-based Southern Kings, joined the PRO14 in 2017, making it a 14-team league. If … The top teams in South Africa, which is the reigning Rugby World Cup champion, have played against the best in New Zealand and Australia in the southern hemisphere's flagship club competition since the game went professional in 1996. READ MORE: * Qantas cuts Wallabies sponsorship after 30-year association, also pulls support for cricket and football * Brad Thorn tipped as potential Wallabies coach with Rugby Australia keen to keep him * Argentina coach Mario Ledesma, who tested positive for Covid-19, says Pumas will be at Rugby Championship. The top teams in South Africa, which is the reigning Rugby World Cup champion, have played against the best in New Zealand and Australia in the southern hemisphere’s flagship club competition since the game went professional in 1996. But it added: “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.”. Try our quiz. A move away by South Africa's leading domestic teams might also be a precursor for the world champion Springboks to abandon the annual Rugby Championship – and games against the New Zealand, Australia and Argentina national teams – and play, instead, in Europe's Six Nations. South Africa rugby body SA Rugby didn’t immediately comment on PRO14′s announcement. There are also four teams from Ireland, four from Wales, two from Scotland and two from Italy in the PRO 14. Guinness PRO14. Published on August 25, 2020. Europe's PRO14 rugby league is in “early discussions” to add more South African teams next year, it said Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 which might lead to the break up of the southern hemisphere's Super … New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams are unlikely to play against South African sides in the future. More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports, FILE - In this March 4, 2017 file photo, Christopher Anthony Cloete of the Southern Kings holds on to the ball during their Super Rugby match against Japan's Sunwolves, in Singapore. The top teams in South Africa have played against the best in New Zealand and Australia in the southern hemisphere's flagship club competition since the game went professional in 1996.