Pro12 and Cheetahs yet to confirm report that 'formal invitation' sent to join competition

Both the Pro12 and the Cheetahs are yet to officially confirm a report this afternoon that the European based competition has issued the Super Rugby franchise a formal invitational to join.

The BBC report in question sent shock waves throughout the rugby world, but neither the Dublin based Pro12 nor the Bloemfontein Super Rugby outfit have confirmed it to be the case.

When South African rugby stakeholder Tony McKeever revealed in April that he had held discussions with Pro12 CEO Martin Anayi with regards to adding The Cheetahs and Kings to the PRO 12, few took the matter seriously.

However fresh reports today have added fuel to speculation that such a move is both possible and indeed potentially imminent.

The exact logistics of how a Super Rugby franchise based in South Africa - nearly 10,000km away - could compete in a competition based in Europe are also yet to be explained.

It is widely expected that two of South Africa's Super Rugby franchises - the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs - are to be culled at the end of the season to streamline the current Super Rugby competition.