South African rugby remains in turmoil over the problem of getting six teams into the nation's five places in the Super Rugby competition.
Relegation or the merger of two teams appear the only options as the South African Rugby Union again met with its Super Rugby sides on Thursday about the problem of having six contenders for five places next year.
SARU held talks with representatives of the five teams currently in the three-nation competition plus the Southern Kings and, although the governing body is seeking to ensure no team would be "damaged" by a solution, it's doubtful that can happen.
Super organiser SANZAR has regularly insisted it is not in a position to expand the tournament to 16 teams before the end of the 2015 season. That means something will have to give to make way for the Port Elizabeth-based Kings, who have been promised a place in 2013 by SARU.
Chief executive Greg Peters told The Associated Press there was no change to SANZAR's stance on the number of teams, which will stay as five each from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand for the next three seasons at least.
SARU said the South African parties would meet again on Monday, while a final outcome is only expected after a meeting of the national union's decision-making General Council on July 13.
The Johannesburg-based Lions - currently Super Rugby's bottom team but also South Africa's reigning Currie Cup champion - would likely be relegated if SARU decides to exclude a franchise to make way for the Kings.
The Lions could merge with the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs to form one team, although that would almost certainly cut both outfits' income.
Lions president Kevin de Klerk told a local radio station it would be "devastating" if the Lions were relegated from the southern hemisphere's top provincial tournament.
It would also throw in doubt the future of the Lions' home stadium, the historic Ellis Park - venue for South Africa's famous Nelson Mandela-inspired victory in the 1995 World Cup final.
Relegation of a side could also produce a backlash from the five current teams, who agreed to the inclusion of the Kings last year on the understanding that none of the current representatives would be "compromised."
"Everyone was agreed that we must secure a solution that does not damage any of the existing franchises," SARU chief executive Jurie Roux said on Thursday following the meeting at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport.
"It is a complex issue with no easy answers and we are determined to leave no stone unturned in finding that answer. A number of options were discussed but there is currently no preferred alternative to recommend to the General Council."
