Pro14 boss Martin Anayi says that the South African teams taking part in the competition should be eligible for European Champions Cup qualification.

While the Kings had a disastrous introduction to the Pro14, finishing bottom of their conference with just one win, the Cheetahs fared much better as they made the playoffs before losing 43-8 to the Scarlets.

The two sides currently cannot qualify for the Champions Cup, but Anayi told WalesOnline this should change in the future.

‘Once they start competing and regularly getting into playoffs then they’ve got to play in the [Champions] Cup competition.

‘Whether that’s called Europe any more is another thing, the Russians are already playing in it. I just think it would be a really sensible way forward, because we’ve spent quite a lot of time and energy making a meritocracy, with the Italians.

‘What that shows you is that when you really have to earn it, Treviso very nearly got there,’ he added.

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