The southern hemisphere's Super 12 rugby competition will be expanded to 14 teams from 2003, the South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby Board (SANZAR) announced today.
The SANZAR board will recommend that Australia be allowed to field a fourth team and South Africa a fifth in the annual regional competition. New Zealand already has five teams.
The board said the proposal still had to be approved by the individual boards from each of the three countries and broadcasters but was expected to go ahead as planned.
"There's a couple of hurdles yet to be jumped....but I don't think we've heard any loud criesof objection," Australian Rugby Union managing director John O'Neill said.
The competition started in 1996. Australia's ACT Brumbies won this year's title.