Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Despite downsizing the door remains open to additional Americas teams in Super Rugby. The 2018 Super Rugby season will be a Super 15, a reduction of three from the current model.
Yesterday’s new format announcement sent shock waves across Australia and South Africa. The two founding members are set to lose one and two teams respectively. Fans from these countries reacted on social media, displaying their anger.
Although the future is in serious doubt for the Melbourne Rebels, Western Force, Southern Kings and Cheetahs the Sunwolves and Jaguares have their places confirmed. The Sunwolves are to play in the Australian conference while Los Jaguares will do so in the South African.
The reduction also seemingly ends the plans to expand to new boundaries in 2020. Plans had previously been openly mentioned by SANZAAR officials. These included establishing new teams in places ranging from Hong Kong and Singapore in Asia to teams in North America and both Argentina and Brazil.
2020 had been spoken about as a suitable time for one or more of these locations to get teams. But despite the reduction of teams in the competition new frontiers are indeed still being explored.
Patrick Johnston has confirmed that SANZAAR has continued discussions with Rugby Canada and USA Rugby and that they remain ”keen” on expanding to North America.
No details as to where such teams may be based are yet known. Sources, nonetheless, indicate that the success of 7’s in both Las Vegas and Vancouver have been noted.
Americas Rugby News is also aware of similar interest in adding teams. The desire remains for Argentina to have a second franchise, the location of which remains undisclosed.
