South Africa will make a call on its Super Rugby teams next month.
SA Rugby announced overnight that it would hold a special general meeting on July 7 to determine which four of its six teams will play in Super Rugby in 2018.
South Africa has set up a franchise committee, with representatives from each of the teams, to debate the issue on certain criteria and make a recommendation to the executive council, who will take that to the SGM next month.
The proposal will also be debated by the 14 non-Super Rugby provincial unions in South Africa.
Whether this process is as clear cut as it sounds remains to be seen, but the date gives an end point for South African teams and fans.
The Cheetahs and the Kings have been the teams most commonly touted as being in danger in the South African conferences, after poor performances in recent times.
All might not be lost for those teams who are cut, with the Pro12 looming as a genuine option for the discarded sides to compete in, alongside European teams.
Meanwhile, the ARU's EGM is set to go ahead next Tuesday, but there will reportedly be little conclusion out of that.
The Australian governing body is set to go into arbitration with the Western Force on July 31, while the Rebels have also reportedly launched their legal action this week.
