Ok, so there will be three conferences of 5 each in 2018. The “Australian Conference” will have four actual Australian teams plus the Sunwolves.

Think about travel. When each of the five New Zealand Conference teams plays its 4 away conference games, the games are all in NZ. When the four Australian teams play their four “conference” away games, one will be in Japan. Of course, the Sunwolves will have terminal jet lag, as now, so no wonder they are worst, but they are not going to be dropped. Instead, goodbye to either the Western Force or the Rebels.

I know it comes down to business, but there is something to be said to tradition too.