Instead of the four conferences involving 18 teams, the next competition will have three conferences, each with five teams. Eight matches will be against each other in the conference and another eight against each of the teams from another conference. After seeing how Super Rugby has been going south since a few years ago, much is needed if it is to continue attracting the crowds and TV audiences, which dropped badly in Australia from 2015. But before the step-up to Super Rugby level, there is the question of standards one step below and in New Zealand it’s the ongoing Mitre 10 provincial competition. It’s amazing how the production line in this country with a population so small compared to the other four countries with Super Rugby representation keeps going and going.

Source: New Strait Times September 22, 2017 17:03 UTC