The future of Australia's professional rugby landscape is clouded with uncertainty after ARU boss Bill Pulver admitted he was not sure how many Australian Super Rugby teams would exist beyond next season.

The SANZAAR joint venture is in the midst of a major independent review into the structure of the Super Rugby competition, the results of which are expected to be known by the end of the year.

On the fence: Bill Pulver is unwilling to guarantee the number of Australian sides in Super Rugby next year. Credit:Getty Images

A 16-team model that would see Australia and South Africa each surrender one licence, potentially as early as 2018, has been discussed at ARU board level. Pulver, only two years ago a staunch defender of the ARU's five-team 'national footprint' model, said he suspected Australia would retain five Super Rugby licences but admitted he was "not sure yet".

"I suspect there will be [five teams] but I'm not sure yet," he said. "There is a process going on in SANZAAR, work that's being done with Accenture, to determine the future of the Super Rugby competition and really all aspects of the game. We'll wait and see what comes back from that feedback.