A South African Super Rugby team boss says he believes one Australian and one South African team are set to be culled from the competition.
The report comes as chief executives of the five Australian Super Rugby teams prepare for a teleconference for an update from the Australian Rugby Union later on Tuesday.
The Western Force, Melbourne Rebels and Brumbies are the teams most under threat if an Australian side is to be cut.
Harold Verster, CEO of the Cheetahs, has told South African media he understands Super Rugby will be cut from 18 teams to 16 for next season following the meeting of governing body SANZAAR in London last week..
Representatives from the national governing bodies of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina met to address widespread concerns about the unwieldy and unbalanced 18-team format, which was introduced last year.
Online news site Netwerk24 reported Verter saying he understands one of South Africa’s six teams and one of Australia’s five will be cut from the competition for 2018.
“There was even speculation that we would return to a Super 12, but my information is that it is going to be reduced from the current 18 to 16 teams, which means the Cheetahs are safe,”
“There is much discussion about the current series and the format and that two South African teams and one Australian team would drop out.
“All I can say is that we are safe. I keep my ear to the ground.”
SANZAAR said on Saturday it would issue a statement “in the coming days” on the future of the competition after stakeholders held ‘final’ consultations this week.