Organisers abandon plans to involve South African sides in Rainbow Cup

Decision 'will have no impact on the long-term partnership between PRO14 Rugby and SA Rugby'

BOK BLOW: Former Munster forward Arno Botha seen here with the Bulls in Super Rugby action against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld. PRO16 organisers have been unable to find a mechanism to involve the four South African franchises in the Rainbow Cup but insists it's all systems go for 2020-21.

Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup organisers have admitted defeat in their efforts to bring together northern hemisphere teams and the new South African franchises for their one-off competition due to public health restrictions.

The organisers on Wednesday announced their intention to abandon hopes of cross-hemisphere fixtures for the tournament which is set to start this weekend with in-country derby games in Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. Instead, the Rainbow Cup will now be run as two separate competitions with “northern” and “southern” elements.