Sport24.co.za | Rennie: Pro12 move good for Cheetahs, Kings
Lloyd Burnard – Cape Town
Cape Town – Chiefs coach Dave Rennie can’t seem to get away from South Africa.
He has been in Cape Town three times in the last year alone, and after winning Saturday’s quarter-final against the Stormers at Newlands, the Chiefs could be back in South Africa on August 5 to take on the Lions in Johannesburg in the tournament final.
Of course, they have to beat the Crusaders in Christchurch first.
It is Rennie’s last season with the Chiefs before he heads to Scotland for a stint with the Glasgow Warriors in the Pro12, but even once he has made that move it seems that Rennie’s involvement with South Africa will continue.
An official announcement has not been made yet, but the Kings and Cheetahs are expected to be unveiled as new additions to the Pro12 any day now.
Both franchises were cut from Super Rugby 2018 as part of SANZAAR’s tournament restructuring, and they have not wasted any time in cashing in on other opportunities.
“Last time I was here in Bloemfontein I said this would be my last time here in Africa,” Rennie joked at Newlands on Saturday.
“Of course, we’ve come back (to Cape Town) now and then I’m going to a competition where the Cheetahs and Kings are heading over to too.”
On a more serious note, Rennie said he was “not sure” if the decision to cut teams was good for Super Rugby.
“I don’t even know what Aussie side is going to go out, but if it’s the Force then they finished second in their Conference,” Rennie said.
“I thought the Cheetahs and Kings were outstanding at various times this year and they got a lot of good results.
“South African teams have got to immerse themselves in a couple of competitions and their rugby will keep growing.
“In the end, maybe going over to the Pro12 is really good for them.”
Rennie added that South African Super Rugby would have benefited from having the players from the Cheetahs and Kings integrated into the other four existing franchises.
“I think, ultimately, if you’d gone down to four sides and six teams combined onto four it would be a hell of a lot stronger,” he said.
“But clearly that’s not going to happen.”
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