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THE brutal truth emerging is that the Aussie side chopped from Super Rugby will be the only club to be dissolved because South African bosses are searching for a European lifeline.
Another day has ticked over with the endangered Melbourne Rebels and Western Force still no closer to learning of their fate for 2018 and beyond.
A special general meeting of the Australian Rugby Union will fill in some of the blanks because the push is on to disclose details of the strategic markers for the two clubs and the review process.
The agitation of the Rugby Union Players Association, which includes Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore as a board member, has pushed for the overdue outline of details.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander is insistent that the two clubs facing the axe in South Africa will still have a competition to play in.
Alexander said SA Rugby was in “advanced talks” with competitions in two different regions.
If the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs and the Southern Kings, from South Africa’s eastern cape, are the imperilled clubs, they may, at least, still get top rugby to nourish them.
‘The whole plan is to ensure that the two teams (axed from Super Rugby) will take part in other competitions from 2018,” Alexander told South Africa’s Netwerk24.
“We do not want to condemn them to the wilderness. So if all goes well, all (six South African) teams will participate in an international tournament.”
European competitions may be cool on the idea of welcoming a South African side and the massive additional travel component.
The extra broadcast money that a Cheetahs side might leverage is a plus and PRO12, with teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy may be looking to spice up their format.
Full article: http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/s...4bfcde70f6d6fc