Super Rugby's 18th team will come from "either Singapore or Japan, with SANZAR having narrowed down its expansion options to Asia," according to Wayne Smith of THE AUSTRALIAN. SANZAR CEO Greg Peters on Wednesday refused to comment on the "process of selecting which franchise will join Argentina and South Africa's southern Kings as new starters when Super Rugby expands from 15 teams to 18" in '16. Sources, however, have said that the choice is "down to Singapore or Japan following the elimination of an unworkable non-Asian third option." South Africa had been "making noises that it not only wanted a sixth team but a seventh as well, but if there was ever any weight to its argument, this season's Super Rugby results have shown it is not a sustainable proposition." Australia will be "delighted that the culling process has left the two Asian bidders as the only live options." The Australian Rugby Union's preference was "always for SANZAR to push up the longitudes to keep matches in time zones friendly to Australia" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/3).
