Some provinces are pushing for a transtasman rugby series to replace the Super 14, but New Zealand and Australian administrators have shown little enthusiasm for the concept.
Provincial officials will debate some of the issues with the New Zealand Rugby Union today and will have more meetings thisweek about the latest in a string of proposals flooding the rugby market as Southern Hemisphere nations look for ways to compete with the financial muscle of the north.
NZRU professional rugby manager Neil Sorensen said his organisation would not back any series which excluded South Africa, and word from Australia was all about expansion of the sport, not constriction.
NSW chief executive Jim L'Estrange said: "We remain committed to the expansion of Super rugby and wholeheartedly support the ARU's stance regarding this matter."
During the past weeks, provincial representatives have held some meetings to gauge support for a 14-team transtasman series to replace the Super 14. A Heineken Cup-style series involving the Sanzar nations, Japan, the Pacific Islands and the US would run alongside that new competition.
A number of provinces said they had listened to the proposal, apparently driven by unions not heading Super 14 franchises, but were yet to be convinced. The NZRU was showing lukewarm interest in the proposal.
"Sanzar's current position is that it is a very much a three-country expansion of Super rugby with South Africa involved," Sorensen said.
"The transtasman idea does not include South Africa and that is absolutely not the NZRU's preferred position at the moment."
