Rugby's Super 12 competition will become the Super 14 in 2003, with an extra team each from Australia and South Africa.
The South Africa New Zealand Australia Rugby (Sanzar) board confirmed the decision yesterday, subject to approval by national unions, broadcasters, and the resolution of "some outstanding commercial considerations."
NZRFU chairman Murray McCaw said the board had also decided to reduce the length of the Tri-Nations from eight weeks, to six weeks, starting next year.
The board resolved to try to ensure that players would have a minimum eight-week break over the season.
Mr McCaw said one of the main issues was ensuring players were not overworked, and compressing the Tri-Nations was one way of doing so.
"Also, by doing that, it means it has less impact on the NPC, which is important as well."
He was happy with the decision to give Australia and South Africa extra teams in the new Super 14.
"We see it as a sensible outcome; it's not really something that was debated one way or the other."
The proposal to play an annual Hemisphere Challenge, as proposed by the International Rugby Board last week, was rejected.
The executive manager of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association, Rob Nichol, welcomed the board's commitment to player welfare. "It's very encouraging. Obviously the NZRFU has gone there to get that commitment from the other Tri-Nations unions.
"It's a commitment we've sought for a long time and now we've got to do the work to make sure it happens."
Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill was confident Australia had the player depth to accommodate a fourth team.
Rian Oberholzer, South African Rugby Union chief executive, said his country would likewise have no problem filling a fifth team.
- NZPA
Super 14 is on the way
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