Jaguares out as South Africa’s Super Rugby teams opt for Pro 14

South Africa’s four existing Super Rugby franchises will leave the competition. SA Rugby confirmed that the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers will transition to an expanded Pro 14. The four Super Rugby teams will take part while the Cheetahs and Southern Kings exit the league.

SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux noted that the decision comes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that New Zealand’s decision to proceed with a domestic or trans-Tasman competition was unilateral.

Suggestions for the 2021 Super Rugby season have included a South American winner competing in play-off’s. This possibility is stronger now that South Africa’s franchises will be migrating to the ‘Pro 16.’

A play-off’s series, or a “Super Series” could yet involve South Africa. Conversations between SA Rugby and SANZAAR have discussed the Cheetahs as the South African entry.

The decision means that Super Rugby as we know it has ended. There will be no South African conference in Super Rugby competitions. Los Jaguares are officially stranded in no-mans-land. Today’s announcement confirms there are two viable options: join the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) or the Currie Cup.

The 2021 Currie Cup will involve eight teams. Four are to be South Africa’s Pro 16 franchises. The other spots will go to teams from the SA Cup. The SA Cup is a new initiative wherein fourteen teams will be divided into two pools to contest a single-round competition. Four sides will qualify for the Currie Cup.

Could Los Jaguares play in the SA Cup? No. Despite the fact that the 2019 Currie Cup featured seven teams and that Los Jaguares XV were champions and undefeated in the First Division, there will be no foreign teams in the South African domestic competition. In short, one option remains for Los Jaguares. It is play in SLAR or do not play at all.

There are three possibilities for Los Jaguares to join SLAR. First, Los Jaguares could become a Buenos Aires team, thereby setting up a rivalry with Córdoba’s Los Ceibos. Second, the players could be spread throughout all existing SLAR teams. Third, a combination of the first two options.

The second option would mean no rugby for Los Jaguares in 2021. Such a possibility is low. ESPN, Gilbert, ICBC, Nike, Telecom Personal, QBE Seguros, Visa and Canterbury all sponsor the team.

The third option would appear to be the way forward. It would be cost-effective, provide more players with game time, boost the league’s standards overall, and it may slow the player exodus. Will Los Ceibos get to face Los Jaguares in 2021?