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Rugby

01st Jun 2017

South African team reportedly invited to join PRO12

Ambitious move

Ben Kiely

Super Rugby’s loss could be the PRO12’s gain.

Currently, the league sometimes known as the Celtic League, comprises of teams representing Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy, but South African-based Cheetahs could be joining the league.

According to BBC Scotland, the Super Rugby outfit have been formally invited to join the league. It is expected that the Cheetahs will require a new league with the Super Rugby reducing its size from 18 to 15 teams in 2018.

Two South African sides will be cut, and although the teams have yet to be confirmed, Bloemfontein’s Cheetahs and Port Elizabeth’s the Southern Kings widely expected to be the clubs that lose their Super Rugby status.

The report also claims that the PRO12 are considering further expansion into new markets in North America and Europe in order to generate more revenue.