Cheetahs boss Harold Verster believes the best way for South African rugby to improve is by joining the Pro14 and play European rugby.
Last week a report from Wales Online said the Sharks will be one of two South African sides to join for the 2019/20 season, with the Lions and Stormers likely to follow in the 2020/21 season.
- Chiefs coach Colin Cooper can't imagine Super Rugby without South Africa
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But it's now expected that Currie Cup teams [South Africa's domestic competition] Griquas and Pumas will likely join the tournament in the coming years.
The Pro14 is a top rugby competition featuring professional teams from Italy, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and South Africa.
It used to be just a European completion, but it grew from 12 to 14 when the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs and Port Elizabeth-based Kings joined last year after being culled from Super Rugby.
Although the Kings did not do well in their debut season, the Cheetahs qualified for the quarter-finals, where they lost to Scarlets.
Speaking to South African website SPort24, Verster said the lack of local derbies is disappointing, but the money on offer in Europe and long-term benefits more than makes up for that.
"The Pro14 overlaps with the Currie Cup, and we don't have our home derbies like we did in Super Rugby," Verster said.
"We miss our derbies, but not the travel and, for some reason, their culture of rugby is similar to ours - I have made more friends in a season than I ever did in Super Rugby.
"But I must say, it's a fantastic competition to be involved in.
"If we can get involved in the European Rugby Champions Cup, we'll be involved in something even bigger than Super Rugby. The figures are sensitive and confidential, but the money is bigger than Super Rugby's by a country mile.
"There's a future for South African rugby in the northern hemisphere, and it doesn't have to be the Super Rugby sides. It's a brilliant strategic move by (SA Rugby chief executive) Jurie Roux. This is an investment that will pay off in about three years."
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