Room for two more?

The Guinness PRO14 could be set to add even more teams after it’s recent expansion to include South African franchises the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings.

A number of teams have been linked with the cross-border competition in recent weeks and months, including Currie Cup franchises the Griquas and Pumas, as well as the possible addition of a professional Georgian outfit.

But according to WalesOnline, the PRO14 wants to add established franchises and big hitters the Stormers, the Bulls and the Sharks are all interested in joining the league, with the competition poised to include two of them in 2020 – in an expanded PRO16 championship.

The biggest appeal for the South African franchises is the fact that games will take place in the same time zone in the PRO14 and will have far less of a toll on the players’ fatigue.

And for the competition itself – welcoming big hitters like the Bulls, Stormers or Sharks would be huge for the championship, who are on a different level to the Cheetahs or Kings. There’s also the added bonus of a likely increased windfall in terms of tv sponsorship.

Watch this space. The PRO16 could be just around the corner.