Vodacom Super Rugby
SARU hunting S15 solution
2012-05-17 17:00
Jurie Roux (Gallo Images)
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Johannesburg - The SA Rugby Union (SARU) said on Thursday it had not yet found a solution to the participation of South African franchises in next year's Super Rugby competition.
Representatives of South Africa's five existing Super Rugby franchises (Bulls, Cheetahs, Lions, Sharks and Stormers), the Southern Kings, the SARU presidency and management met in in Johannesburg in the latest in a series of meetings on the subject.
"A number of options were discussed but there is currently no preferred alternative to recommend to the General Council," said SARU chief executive Jurie Roux.
SARU's executive committee proposed at a special general meeting in January that the top four teams in the South African conference in this year's Super Rugby competition would join the Southern Kings in next year's competition.
It was also proposed that the last-placed team in the South African conference would play a promotion/relegation match against the non-Super Rugby franchise after the 2013 and 2014 season.
"Everyone was agreed that we must secure a solution that does not damage any of the existing franchises," Roux said.
"It is a complex issue with no easy answers and we are determined to leave no stone unturned in finding that answer."
A further meeting of the franchises and SARU, to discuss participation in the Super Rugby competition, will take place on Monday.
Roux said the decision on Super Rugby participation rested with the SARU General Council.
The next scheduled General Council meeting takes place on July 13 in Cape Town.