On top of that media from across the country gather for the launch of the competition which is played in South Africa, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

The Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings are the two representatives from South Africa, and the general message was this season is the ideal opportunity for either team to really announce themselves as serious title contenders.

The Cheetahs recent Currie Cup campaign has generated a tremendous amount of hype abroad, while the Kings didn’t do too badly in their recent warm-up matches against the Georgian and Namibian national teams.

The biggest factor which could contribute to the South African teams’ success in the PRO14 season is the fact that it is a Rugby World Cup year.

No less than 115 players who ply their trade for the respective clubs and franchises will be competing in the World Cup in Japan.

The Commercial Director of the PRO14, Dermot Rigley, told OFM Sport that the Cheetahs can be considered as dark horses for the title this season.

“This is the opportunity, let's make no bones about it,” said Rigley.

“It is an opportunity for both the Cheetahs and the Kings. I think that the Kings will be caught up in the wave of success of what the Cheetahs did in the Currie Cup.

“Also because it is a World Cup year. Our competition supplies the biggest number of players that will be playing in the World Cup. We supply more players than any other competition.

“In 2015 during the last World Cup, Connacht won that. They made a lot of hay while players were away and playing in the Rugby World Cup.

“There is a genuine chance for the Cheetahs and the Kings to make some real progress during the Rugby World Cup.

“Irrespective of that the Cheetahs are on a winning streak. When you get a winning mentality you keep building and building.”

There is also a hint that the Currie Cup and the PRO14 will no longer overlap in future. Because it is a World Cup year, the 2019/20 does not overlap with the worlds’ oldest domestic competition, however, because of the global calendar coming into effect as from 2020, it is expected that the PRO14 will only start at the end of September in future, with the final to be contested in June as opposed to May.

The 2019/20 PRO14 kicks off on 27 September when the Cheetahs host the Glasgow Warriors at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport