Two South African and one Australian team will be cut for the 2018 Super Rugby season.
The restructuring comes after widespread criticism of the first season of the 18-team format, which was introduced in 2016 after Argentina’s Jaguares and the Sun-wolves of Japan joined the competition and the Port Elizabeth-based Kings returned.
SANZAAR has left it to the national rugby unions involved to announce the teams to be cut, Australia’s Perth-based Western Force and South Africa’s Kings and Cheetahs widely considered the most vulnerable franchises.
Under the new structure, the competition will be divided into three conferences; New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
The Japan Sun-wolves will join the Australian conference while Argentina’s Jaguares will play in the South African conference.
New Zealand’s conference will remained unchanged.