Scottish Rugby COO Dominic McKay said that adding two South African teams to become the Pro14 "might not mark the end of the competition's expansion into other territories," according to the BBC. McKay: "That might not be the end of the story. We may expand further if that is right for the tournament and it is right for the competition -- and for the clubs." Since '10, the league has included four Welsh clubs, four from Ireland and two each from Italy and Scotland. McKay said, "Expanding is in our DNA. We expanded into Italy about seven years ago and expansion was something we are very keen on" (
BBC, 8/1).
SIGH OF RELIEF: In London, Ben Coles wrote Pro14 CEO Martin Anayi said that the "new age" of the Pro14 is "just the beginning." Threading "the new parts onto the Pro12 tapestry since the two South African sides were cut from Super Rugby has remarkably been completed in very little time." If supporters "have been frustrated at a lack of updates regarding the tournament's expansion," ensuring that the players' health and recovery time comes first "has been worth the backlash." Anayi: "There is that genuine sense of relief to get it out in the open. We have been working so hard in the background across the board. It has been special to be involved with, but also very cathartic to be able to announce it" (TELEGRAPH, 8/2). In Dublin, David Kelly reported Celtic Rugby execs will publish an initial 13-week fixture list for an expanded Pro14 championship "in the coming days." Another South African side "is believed to be interested" in spreading its wings north to join the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings as the South African Rugby Union's interest in the current Super Rugby structure "continues to dwindle." Despite the addition of two more sides, the championship "will actually feature less regular season games" -- 21, down from 22 -- as the 14 sides will be geographically split into two conferences of seven (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 8/2).
