SA Rugby boss Jurie Roux is in Dublin this week to finalise the deal that will allow the Cheetahs and Southern Kings to participate in an expanded Pro 12 tournament from September. Meanwhile, a well-placed source told Business Day two other South African Super Rugby franchises had expressed interest in playing in the Pro 12. They will be monitoring how the competition unfolds to decide whether they request a move north when the current Super Rugby deal ends in 2020. The Celtic League, which owns and administers the Pro12, has signed off on the deal and provisional fixture lists and logistics have been done. A formal announcement is expected later this week. The tournament features top teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy in a tournament that runs to May. However, it has always been seen as a poor cousin to England’s Premier Rugby League and France’s Top 14, a situation that is underlined by its relative lack of money. The Pro 12 earned €14m in broadcast revenue last season,...

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