The Wireless

Super Rugby plan to go to broadcasters

08:58 am on 2 May 2014

Super Rugby's plan to expand with to a four-conference, 18 team competition is being taken to potential broadcasters for key rights negotiations.

Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver revealed on Wednesday the announcement of an expanded and restructured model to take to broadcasters is only a fortnight away.

From 2016 the competition would include new teams from South Africa and Argentina and a yet to be confirmed franchise.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said there had been interest for that final spot from as far afield as Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and the west coast of the United States.

Mr Pulver is backing a Super 18 model under which the New Zealand and Australian conferences would remain the same but three new teams would be added.