Francois Venter of the Cheetahs is tackled by the Scarlets in a Pro14 match in Wales.

South African rugby president Mark Alexander has added heat to the debate over his country's future direction in the sport, saying his players are "better off" playing in northern hemisphere championships.

There has been ongoing speculation that South Africa could soon quit Super Rugby, frustrated at the travel demands and competition structure.

South Africa have four teams operating in Super Rugby – the Lions, Bulls, Stormers and Sharks – and also have two teams playing in Europe's Pro14 championship – the Cheetahs and Kings.

GETTY IMAGES South African Rugby president Mark Alexander.

Alexander revealed that two more franchises, most likely Griquas and the Pumas, could join the Pro14 next year, a competition that involves teams from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.

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Alexander may have been speaking to please his audience – he was at the Pro14 season launch – but he clearly likes having options and believed the "long-term" investment in getting involved in the northern competition, despite the start-up expenses, would benefit South African rugby in future.

"It's a long-term investment. We have options now and in future. At some point in time in future if we don't want to stay in the south (in Super Rugby), we can move north," Alexander told the gathering.

"Also, the Pro 14 is a good competition for the players and coaches who're playing against tier one nations (players) each weekend, except for England.

"When we become a full Pro14 member next season we'll be the only nation who plays in the north and the south, and the major benefit of playing in the northern hemisphere is the players are better off. With the structure of the Pro14 competition the way it is, it's easier for travelling, with distances between places less than in the south, and the time zones are also better.

"When you consider player welfare and what's best for them, then the north is better."

In a crucial development for rugby in South Africa, the eight main franchises will on Friday (NZT) vote on a new contracting model that will introduce a draft system and cut expenses.

"We've created a false market in this country. It's simply not sustainable having 990 players trying to make a living. We have the biggest number in the world," Alexander said.

The plan is to cut the number of professional players to 459.

This would see the Lions, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Cheetahs, Southern Kings, Griquas and Pumas limit their senior contracted squads to between 45 and 50 players.

Surplus players would be placed into a draft system and become available to teams needing their specialities.

"In the new model all the best players will be playing all the time. You won't have the third and fourth choice guys sitting in the store-room," Alexander said.

"Also, with the new model, some players will have normal jobs and work in the day, and earn a salary, and then play on weekends, and receive a game fee. Once we bring in the draft system smaller teams will benefit by being able to select players that would ordinarily not get game time at the franchises.

"This initiative is driven by the unions in conjunction with the players and their association. They've drafted this document, it's a great one. We should've done this much earlier."