There's a tweet going round about a new proposed league featuring the Cheetahs plus a team from each of Scotland and Italy, a combined Zimbabwean and Kenyan franchise, two from Spain, Georgia, Romania and Russia. To be launched in April and play its first season in October. Kind of hard to judge it's legitimacy but rumours of this have been making the rounds for a while.
It's interesting in regards to the RE Super Cup and the crossover of nations. The SC has a team from each of Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Georgia, Israel and Russia. Which are with the exceptions of the two Russian clubs (who are committed for two seasons) committed via their Unions to 4 seasons. Romania are also apparently keen on entry to the SC upon sorting out their issues with funding from the govt. and both Poland and Czechia are in the process of developing entrants.
If both leagues are up and running at the same time then Spain could have 3 professional franchises, Georgia would either have to require the Black Lions to double up or find a 2nd franchise likely in Batumi. Russia will have a new Moscow based franchise potentially not involved in their domestic pro league.
There are positives and negatives. The big negatives is having two competing structures. Both operating in the same markets. The Romanian participation in the rumoured structure would be Baia Mare (the strongest club in Romania with a lot of the national team on their roster) while the Union are looking at entering a franchise in the Bucreasti Wolves in the near future. Now as long as competing in this doesn't exclude players from national selection then broadening the domestic pool of players competing at a higher level will on benefit the national teams. Something I think has been witnessed in the REC this season.
But it would be better for everyone if they worked together to create a united competition. At least in my opinion.
