The format would do away with the conference system, drop one team and implement a variation on an all-play-all model, or round robin. The Sunwolves appear to be the team most at risk, unless another South African team follows in the footsteps of the Cheetahs and Kings and joins the Pro 14. Last teams standing: The 2018 Super Rugby final was a re-match between the Lions and Crusaders. Credit:AP Rumours persist that all four teams, including last year's runners-up the Lions, are eyeing off a move to the more timezone-friendly European competition. But the Herald has been told that with two teams already playing there, SA Rugby would be keen to keep their Super Rugby contingent stable at four teams and potentially put two more into the Pro 14 in coming years. Given Australia have ruled out cutting any more teams and New Zealand seem to be comfortable with five, that leaves the Sunwolves and Jaguares.

The Jaguares, from Argentina, finished seventh last season and have helped fuel steady improvement in the Pumas' fortunes at Test level, with a quarter-final berth in the 2015 World Cup and Test victories against South Africa, Australia, France and Italy since then. Loading But as a full member of the SANZAAR alliance and Argentina now considered a Rugby Championship staple, it appears the Jaguares are staying put for the time being. The formation this year of Rugby Americas is the only caveat to that. The Sunwolves are entering their fourth season of Super Rugby. They finished bottom of the table in 2018 with three wins from 16 matches, compared to four wins from the 14th-placed Blues and six wins from the Reds, Bulls and Stormers. Constraining the decision-making is the need to keep the competition to a 22-week duration. A full round-robin format, in which every team plays every other team on a home-and-away basis, would be impossible to fit into that window, regardless of whether there were 14 or 15 teams involved.

A modified round robin, similar to the NRL's format, would be the only way for it to work. That would not be a perfect solution for the Australian teams, who would host at least one but potentially two fewer home games than under the current three-conference system. But with a groundswell in favour of the simpler, fairer round-robin model, Rugby Australia could take the approach that the model that pleases the broadcasters most – and therefore delivers more money – is the one they are prepared to accept. Improvers: The Jaguares appear to be staying put – at least for now. Credit:PA Such a compromise could bear the hallmarks of the near-fatal one made two years ago when the SANZAAR nations agreed to expand to 18 teams. Broadcasters – mostly in Europe – were prepared to pay handsomely for an expansive Super Rugby but fans wholly rejected the competition's compromised integrity.