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South African involvement in Pro14 'as significant as launch of Super Rugby'
By Jack Davies
The addition of the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings to the Pro14 is as significant a moment for the sport as the launch of Super Rugby, according South African Rugby Union CEO Jurie Roux.
The Cheetahs and the Kings will join teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in next season's revamped competition after losing out in a decision to trim Super Rugby from 18 to 15 teams.
But Roux is optimistic about the success of the changes, which he believes are comparable to when the southern hemisphere competition was launched as the Super 12 in 1996.
"This is a momentous day for rugby – as significant as the launch of the Super 12 tournament, 21 years ago," said Roux.
"We are breaking new ground with a number of global firsts; this is the first cross-hemisphere domestic club competition; the first time we will have played summer rugby in South Africa and the first experiment in aligning a season in the south with that of the north.
"Our eyes are on the bigger picture, which is new horizons and new opportunities for South African rugby and our Pro14 partners.
"I'd like to thank [Pro14 CEO] Martin Anayi and the board of Pro14 Rugby as well as the national unions of Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy for opening the door at short notice and welcoming us through it.
"We look forward to this adventure and building something special."
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Latest Comments
Were you shocked by Sexton trying to rip Barrett's head off when he scored that final try in that return game?
Sexton once again the beneficiary of incredible double standards. Some of the rules simply didn't apply to him. The referee even watched that replay about 5 times in slow motion to see if he grounded the ball. If an NZ player had made that tackle it would have been a yellow card.
Ireland led by Sexton were the biggest bunch of whingers to ever play the game. NZ's dislike of Ireland was not caused by losing to them, it was caused by the Irish players, commentators and media being such giant crybabies.
I genuinely think Ireland are the best team in the world, and I think they will beat the ABs on Friday, but they are by some distance the team I like the least, and I know many people, not just from NZ, who feel the same.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
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