But, as Super Rugby moves towards an independent commission from next year, the Rebels’ exit has sharpened the focus on the playoffs. If eight from 12 teams was too generous, eight from 11 can hardly be viewed any better.
As a result, the Herald understands there are two options on the table to come into place in 2025.
The first would have a top six qualify from the 11 teams, eliminating two qualifiers and the quarter-finals system as a whole.
Instead, the teams who finished first and second on the ladder would be afforded a week’s rest at the start of the finals, while teams three to six play off against each other.
The two winners of those matches would then advance to play teams one and two, in effectively semifinals. This system isn’t without precedence, and can be seen in football’s A-League, which also has 12 teams take part.
The Herald understands this would be the preferred option for the Super Rugby commission to implement.
The second option, though, follows the playoff model of the NFL’s conference finals system.
Consisting of 32 teams split into two conferences, the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference, the NFL has the top seven from each advance to playoffs.
In that system, the top qualifier is afforded a week off, while teams two to seven play off.
That results in four teams who face one another again in a semifinal-style format.
At present, there is no timeline for when a decision will be made, but confirmation is expected as Super Rugby locks in its schedule for the 2025 season.
