1
BREAKING: Reports Pro12 to become Pro14
By Ian Cameron
BBC Scotland are reporting that the Pro12 will be confirmed as a new Pro14 competition with the entry of the two culled South African Super Rugby franchises.
The BBC report that the deal will be worth in the region of £6 million per year to the league through both TV revenue and through the South African Rugby Union.
Both the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings were officially discarded from the Super Rugby tournament early this month.
While it is yet to be confirmed, it is expected that the new layout will see two conferences of 7 teams, who will play each other both home and away. Each team will play all teams from the other conference at least once, bringing the total number of regular season games to 19.
The top teams from each conference will then play-off against each other to be crowned Pro14 champions.
There has however been no confirmation from the Pro12 since the story of an expanded 14 team league was first mooted.
The new deal will see added revenue of approximately £500,000 (€564,000) per club per year, with the prospect of increasing TV and advertising revenue also on the cards as the Pro12 opens up to the South African market.
Both sides played out a thrilling encounter in their final match as Super Rugby teams, which some likened to a defacto audition for a potential Pro14 place.
However, attendances at both sides entering the competition have been relatively poor this season, with the Southern Kings attracting an average attendance of just 7,000. The franchise - which was formed in 2009 - has also battled financial issues.
The more established of the pair - the Cheetahs - were founded in 2005, and their first match saw a capacity attendance of 37,383.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Four Ireland talking points as Aki axed and two rookies make bench
3
New scrumhalf rule among 4 global Law trials as others shot down
4
All Blacks team to play France
5
Latest Comments
Nice one John. I agree that defence (along with backfield kick receipt/positioning) remains their biggest issue, but that I did see some small improvements in it despite the scoreline like the additional jackal attempts from guys like tupou and the better linespeed in tight. But, I still see two issues - 1) yes they are jackaling, but as you point out they aren't slowing the ball down. I think some dark arts around committing an extra tackler, choke tackles, or a slower roll away etc could help at times as at the moment its too easy for oppo teams to get quick ball (they miss L wright). Do you have average ruck speed? I feel like teams are pretty happy these days to cop a tackle behind the ad line if they still get quick ball... and 2) I still think the defence wide of the 3-4th forward man out looks leaky and disconnected and if sua'ali'i is going to stay at 13 I think we could see some real pressure through that channel from other teams. The wallabies discipline has improved and so they are giving away less 3 pt opportunities and kicks into their 22 via penalty. Now, they need to be able to force teams to turnover the ball and hold them out. They scramble quite well once a break is made, but they seem to need the break to happen first... Hunter, marika and daugunu were other handy players to put ruck pressure on. Under rennie, they used to counter ruck quite effectively to put pressure on at the b/down as well.
Go to commentsYes, probably why he still annoys me even now
Go to comments