Reports - Deal Done To Expand Guinness PRO12 To 14 Teams
It is being reported that a deal to expand the Guinness PRO12 to 14 teams has been done.
According to BBC Scotland, Leinster Rugby and co. will be joined by South African sides Cheetahs and Southern Kings, who have left Super Rugby which is cutting its number of teams from 18 to 15.
The Cheetahs, who are based in Bloemfontein, and the Port Elizabeth-based Southern Kings will play their last Super Rugby fixtures this Friday.
The new league, which kicks off in the first week in September, will comprise of two conferences of seven teams - two Welsh and Irish clubs in each one, along with one each from Scotland, Italy and South Africa.
The top sides in each conference will progress to the semi-finals while the second and third placed teams will battle it out in play-offs for the other two places in the last-four.
The six-year deal, said to be worth in-or-around an extra €6.5 million to the league, is set to be officially announced next week.