Super Rugby players from the Western Force, Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels are on tenterhooks as speculation heightens that an Australian team is to be axed. Chief executives from all five Australian franchises were briefed on recent developments by senior Australian Rugby Union (ARU) officials on Tuesday, just hours after a report emerged claiming an Australian team is to be cut. Harold Verster, CEO of South African team the Cheetahs, told media he understood one Australian team and one of South Africa's six teams will go, with the competition to be reduced from 18 teams to 16 for next season. "We want to see five (Australian) teams in the comp. He acknowledged the convoluted format of the Super Rugby competition made it hard for some people to follow but felt the actual product was good.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 14, 2017 07:30 UTC