New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and Rugby Australia (RA) have reportedly agreed on the new format for Super Rugby, as the competition relaunches in 2022.
Despite the bad blood between the two bodies over the fallout of the decision not to send the All Blacks to Perth, both NZR and RA are understood to be close to finalising how Super Rugby will look as it enters a new era from next year, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
After two COVID-19 affected seasons, which has seen the southern hemisphere's premier club competition spawn off into New Zealand's Super Rugby Aotearoa, and Australia's Super Rugby AU, 2022 will see the competition return to a multinational tournament.
Both sets of New Zealand and Australian sides did take part in this year's Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, however that competition was intended to be a one-off after the opening of the trans-Tasman travel bubble.
Twelve teams will take part in Super Rugby 2022, the five New Zealand and Australian sides, as well as newcomers Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua. None of the South African sides, nor Argentina's Jaguares will compete in the next iteration though.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the competition's structure will be similar to that of the last full seasons of Super Rugby, pre-COVID.
Each team will play 14 matches across the regular season, with the 12 teams to face off in a home and away format for 11 of those games.
The conference system will not feature, with the finals seedings to be determined by finishing position, and the top eight teams playing off in quarter-finals.
The first placed finisher will host the eighth, second host seventh, third host sixth and fourth host fifth, with the winners then going through to semi-finals, with no second chances should higher seeded teams lose.
The only possible issue of contention will be the additional three games, which could see some sides asked to play more challenging games than others.
Super Rugby 2022's new format will reportedly be revealed later this week.
