Tri-nations and Super 12 to remain three-country competitions

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The Tri-Nations and Super 12 will remain a competition among New Zealand, Australian and South African teams, although both may be expanded later.

New Zealand Rugby Union and Sanzar (South Africa, Australia New Zealand rugby alliance) chief executive Chris Moller said the competitions would remain a three-country deal, thwarting the hopes of Japan, the Pacific Islands and Argentina being part of the southern hemisphere series.

But there is a strong possibility the Super 12 will become a Super 14, and the Tri-Nations expanded so that each country plays the others three times rather than twice.

A Sanzar board meeting in Sydney this week settled on an offer to be presented via its agent Ian Frykberg to News Ltd as part of the negotiations on extending the $875 million 10-year-broadcasting agreement which finances southern hemisphere rugby.

The News Ltd deal expires at the end of next year.

- NZPA