The South African Rugby Union’s executive committee is set to hold a meeting here on Thursday to discuss the future structure of the Super Rugby competition.

More teams will to be added from 2016, when a new TV broadcast deal will come into effect.

Sport24

SARU wants the Kings to be added and its president Oregan Hoskins recently indicated he’d like to see a 17-team competition with a side from Argentina added to the mix.

Hoskins was in favour of a round-robin format which would mean less local derbies – as is currently the case in the current conference system where teams are placed in three groups based on country. While they play overseas teams across the conferences, they play teams from their own country twice on a home and away basis, something SARU wanted to do away with.

However, according to Thursday’s Cape Times, there is a possibility of the current conference format staying in place, but the Kings will definitely be added to the mix.

SARU is reportedly trying to secure a greater share of the revenue from the TV broadcast deal than the current equal share with Australia and New Zealand.

SARU and their New Zealand counterparts are in favour of a single round-robin format, but that would mean that SARU won’t be able to gain a greater share of the revenue as it would mean fewer local derbies, which affect viewership ratings.

Therefore, sticking with a three-conference system and a double round of derbies would make it easier for SARU to demand a larger cut from the new TV deal.

Organisers are hoping to make final decision on the Super Rugby format by March next year.