After months of speculation, and assurances we would be informed before Christmas, the latest information released by Super Rugby's governing body Sanzar about the competition's proposed new format is heavy on possibility but light on detail.
An eight-line statement, received by email at 8.37 on Thursday night, has informed us that after next year there are likely to be 17 teams, including one from Argentina and six from South Africa. New Zealand and Australia will continue with the current model of five teams each.
And that, unfortunately, is that. No other details were available and yesterday Sanzar's chief executive Greg Peters was unavailable for comment all day because of meetings. A Sanzar spokesman said in any case Peters had nothing more to add to what he said in the statement, which was: "Today's [Sanzar] meeting was another important step in deciding the future of Super Rugby. Encouraging progress was made and we now have a preferred model that involves six teams from South Africa and a new team from Argentina.
"The model will now be taken to the national unions for approval before Sanzar presents its final position to broadcasters and fans in due course."
Nothing more to add? What about - a smidgen of detail about how the draw could work with 17 teams replacing the current 15, a number which lends itself naturally to three conferences? Is this the end of the conference system? Will all teams play each other under the new model?
