Lions president Kevin de Klerk isn't ruling out the possibility of leaving Super Rugby to join the Pro14, saying there are 'millions of pounds on offer in Europe'.
A report from Wales Online on Monday (NZ time) says that two more South African outfits will enter the Pro14 for the 2019/20 campaign, with another joining for the following season.
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The Pro14 is a top rugby competition featuring professional teams from Italy, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and South Africa.
It used to be just a European completion, but it grew from 12 to 14 when the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs and Port Elizabeth-based Kings joined last year after being culled from Super Rugby.
Sanzaar chief executive Andy Marinos was quick to refute these claims in a statement.
"Sanzaar is currently engaged in a detailed strategic planning process that has the ultimate and very important aim of producing a roadmap for the competitions' future formats up to and including 2030, and in the shorter term the delivery to market of competitions for the next iteration of Sanzaar's broadcasting rights," said Marinos.
"As part of this process, the member unions have fully committed to the strategy and their future participation. Any talk of a change to the stakeholder relationship and partners withdrawing, creation of new teams in new markets and trans-Tasman competitions is unsubstantiated speculation and simply wrong."
However, de Klerk told the Daily Telegraph that market forces could force a move to a northern hemisphere competition once the Super Rugby broadcasting deal expires in 2020.
"Maybe ultimately, the millions of pounds on offer in Europe will influence the decision," he said.
"There is nothing concrete at the moment. When this broadcasting deal comes to an end, there's going to need to be some close negotiations with Sanzaar.
"From my point of view, I would like to see South Africa remain in Super Rugby, but the European currency is making it difficult."
Hurricanes assistant coach Jason Holland has also weighed in on the issue and he said it would be a shame if South African teams left Super Rugby.
"I suppose from my opinion, it'd be a shame to not have the South African teams playing with us," he said.
"They add a different challenge every week.
"We still want to play against them."
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