Glasgow and Connacht were very good-looking Pro12 winners in recent seasons, but gosh Scarlets from 2016 to 2018 have been so impressive.

Malahide is where it's all at these days.

columoc wrote: Have Munster fans given up?

Barely 10k for play off vs. Edinburgh and now returning tickets out of only 4750 allocation vs. Leinster.

Best fans my eye.

Ah here, Ballisbridge isn't exactly Toulon, Toulouse, Montpelier or Bordeaux.
Bit much to expect from the real fans....

Or maybe the event junkies are off in Kiev instead... :whistle:

Have Munster fans given up?

Barely 10k for play off vs. Edinburgh and now returning tickets out of only 4750 allocation vs. Leinster.

Best fans my eye.

Girvan Demspey off to Bath as attack coach...

c.newsnow.co.uk/A/937747451?-11081:2392

I doubt they'll fall away much, they've promoted four from their Currie Cup team, and taking 4 lads back from abroad, all of them in the 24-28 age bracket, including three lads returning from Japanese clubs who have 80 Super rugby caps between them.

pinky wrote: When you see them all listed, that's a serious dose of players leaving the Cheetahs: www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/PRO14/cheetahs-m...mass-exodus-20180508
Hope they don't end up being Kings Mark II next season (although it would even up the conferences nicely).

After a culling like that it's hard to see them being remotely competitive next year but for the sake of the league I hope they prove me wrong. "there is still uncertainty over the future of flank Paul Schoeman" this guy has been very impressive this season along with Oupa Mohoje at 7 and we could probably do with another option in the back row. But not much chance of signing players when we don't have a head coach.

When you see them all listed, that's a serious dose of players leaving the Cheetahs: www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/PRO14/cheetahs-m...mass-exodus-20180508
Hope they don't end up being Kings Mark II next season (although it would even up the conferences nicely).

I saw some idle speculation elsewhere that it might be a case of one of the existing SR teams moving to Pro16 along with one of Pumas/Griquas and the other taking the vacant SR spot. Dunno if there's any basis to that but it might explain the talk of the Sharks being the first to move (one team moving makes no sense).

Accidentally Onside wrote: The two worst teams in the Currie Cup

Well they were the bottom two in the Premier Division, but bear in mind that the teams making up the Kings are lower down. The Currie Cup sides that have an associated Super Rugby franchise have an advantage in terms of signing players and even still, Pumas were only one win behind Blue Bulls. But yeah, probably not as enticing a prospect as having the Lions or Sharks in the mix.

The two worst teams in the Currie Cup playing out of Kimberley and Nelspruit.........not exactly top end teams playing in easy-to-reach metropolis.

Not sure how keen I'd be on either

pinky wrote: I think this version of the story may be more credible:
www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/2018-05-...sa-teams-for-pro-14/
Pumas and Griquas (currently Currie Cup sides) to join Pro16 in the short term, with vague talk of some Super Rugby teams moving (which is probably more of a negotiating tactic for the Super Rugby TV deal, etc.)

This fits with those teams looking to join the Anglo Welsh Cup earlier this season ( www.rugbypass.com/news/saru-give-green-l...o-welsh-cup-venture/ ), at which point the WRU pulled the plug on the Anglo Welsh Cup.

I think this version of the story may be more credible:
www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/2018-05-...sa-teams-for-pro-14/
Pumas and Griquas (currently Currie Cup sides) to join Pro16 in the short term, with vague talk of some Super Rugby teams moving (which is probably more of a negotiating tactic for the Super Rugby TV deal, etc.)

On a separate, less important note. I would not be happy if the name changes every year - Pro 12/14/16/17 etc. I assume a full league re-brand is due at some point. Presumably to PRO Rugby if the US league will give up the marketing rights

Pro 17 and World Rugby have to find a Home fior a Georgian team. The money, stadium and fans are there.

Pretty sure the SA teams are signed on to the PRO[X] (where X >12) til 2022 at least, and several Saffirs have been added to the board, so I'd say a full exit from Super Rugby is more likely than a full exit from the Pro[X].

The three huge advantages our league offers are (1) roughly the same time zone, so local broadcast rights are worth a lot more (2) access to a European league, so broadcasting rights are worth a lot more and (3) a lot less travel, which seems batsh*t when they're in a different hemisphere, but was called out last year by the Cheetahs CEO as a real selling point.

I reckon a halfway house of 4 in the Pro17? and 2 in Super rugby might be what SA are actually playing for. Allows them year round product for starters.