SA Rugby expected to replace Southern Kings with another South African side for the Pro14 2020-21 season
The Guinness Pro14 have announced that they expect SA Rugby to replace the liquidated Southern Kings franchise with another South African side for the 2020-21 season in the Pro14.
Port Elizabeth's Kings were placed into voluntary liquidation last week, with the franchise facing an accumulated deficit of R55m (£2.5m).
Given the current international travel restrictions the Pro14 do not expect South African franchises to be part of the competition until 2021, however, at least two South African franchises will then be required to take part, with the Cheetahs potentially joined by one of the Bulls, Lions, Sharks or Stormers.
"SA Rugby’s long-standing commitments are to field two teams in the Guinness PRO14 and in light of the withdrawal of the Southern Kings, discussions are on-going about fulfilling this agreement from 2021 using a replacement team from its current professional franchises," read a Pro14 statement.
The Pro14 also confirmed that talks are underway to add more South African franchises to the competition from 2021, which would signal the end of South Africa's participation in Super Rugby, with the Pro14 potentially expanding to become the Pro16.
How SA Rugby will decide which four of the five South African franchises qualify to play in the Pro16 is not yet known, with The South African newspaper reporting that the Cheetahs have proposed that qualification for the Pro16 should be based on how each franchise performs during South Africa's domestic Currie Cup. The Cheetahs, Currie Cup champions in 2019, joined the Pro14 at the same time as the Kings in 2017, reaching the play-offs in their first season.
Domestic rugby in South Africa returns this weekend for the first time since March with pre-season friendlies, before the launch of a domestic Super Rugby competition on October 10, followed by the start of the Currie Cup on November 28 with the Currie Cup final scheduled for January 23, 2021.
