South Africa's best players and teams could join Guinness PRO14 as major review launched into problems in Super Rugby

A rugby review has been launched in New Zealand following calls for the Sharks, Stormer, Bulls and Lions to be excluded from the crack tournament

South Africa's world champion aces could soon be playing in the Guinness PRO14 after New Zealand announced a wide-ranging review of its involvement in Super Rugby.

This season’s Super Rugby tournament has been halted by the coronavirus pandemic, with New Zealand holding a domestic competition starting next month and Australia planning to follow suit.

Some of Australian rugby’s key stakeholders have been vocal in their support of a trans-Tasman only competition in future years and want the South Africans and Argentine side Jaguares booted out of Super Rugby.

Other leading ex-players feel the tournament needs an overhaul to become more appealing to the fans.

Now the New Zealand Rugby Union has established a committee to examine the future of the tournament.

With international travel restrictions in place across the world, it is much less likely fixtures could be played against Argentine or South African sides in the short-term, perhaps even affecting next year’s Super Rugby campaign.

A move to the northern hemisphere and its similar time zones would make travelling easier for South African teams while they could benefit financially from more sponsorship and a greater television audience in Europe.

South Africa already has two teams – Cheetahs and Southern Kings – in the PRO14.

But the cross-border tournament would get an enormous fillip if big-hitters Stormers, who Wales and Lions star Jamie Roberts appeared for this year, Sharks, Bull and Lions were to follow suit.

It could set up the prospect of the Welsh regions tangling with some of the best players on the plant.

Springboks' World Cup winning skipper Siya Kolisi and world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit play for the Stormers.

Other World Cup final stars, like Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am, appear for the Sharks.

PRO14 chief executive Martin Anayi has said: “We have always been very interested in South Africa. We like them and see them as a key part of our future.

“The tournament works well at the moment but could work better if you could add teams to it. So that’s one avenue potentially.”

Stormers coach John Dobson, a fan of Super Rugby, believes moves are afoot, declaring: “I’ve got a horrible feeling this cacophony is going to have some sway.”

However, there are stumbling blocks to changing the format of Super Rugby, which reverts to 14 teams next year with the axing of Japanese side Sunwolves, with agreements already in place.

New Zealand Rugby have signed a five-year broadcast deal with SkySport for the current Super Rugby format. The governing body’s chief executive Mark Robinson says they are committed to it, but needed to ensure the competition stayed “relevant”.