So we’ll have to get used to saying the Guinness PRO14 now.
Celtic Rugby and the South African Rugby Union have just confirmed that South African sides the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings will be taking part in an expanded Guinness PRO14 tournament in the 2017/18 season.
The news broke in the last month that the two South African sides would be joining the PRO12 to turn it into the PRO14, and it has now emerged that a strategic agreement has been signed by all involved parties.
The addition of the two South African sides require the Championship to introduce a new conference-type format as a league format is not suited to a 14‐team cross‐border tournament.
In the statement, it was announced that the development is part of it’s plans as it “becomes a truly global tournament.”
The Conferences will be divided as follows.
The new #PRO14 conferences are out! Will be an interesting year to see how it all works out. pic.twitter.com/HXeA2nJXew
— Rugbai (@RugbaiYT) August 1, 2017
Each team will play 21 regular season games and will come up against each other at least once.
The Pro14 have claimed that they will aim to protect derby fixtures.
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