The Pro12 competition is expected to be expanded from September to include two new South African sides; the Cheetahs and Southern Kings.
The two teams will be dropped from Super Rugby next season which is reducing from 18 to 15 sides. South Africa Rugby state that the two teams have reached agreements with the national union and will explore other "international competition opportunities".
The Kings and the Cheetahs concluded their Super Rugby season on July 14th, with the Cheetahs etching a 21-20 victory.
Here's everything you need to know about them:
CHEETAHS
Where are they from?
The Cheetahs have the central city of Bloemfontein as their home base, known as the City of Roses for the abundance of flowers in the area.
The metropolis is the judicial capital of South Africa and the major centre in the Free State province. It is at moderately high altitude, some 4,600 feet above sea level.
The Cheetahs play their home games at the Free State Stadium, which was used during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the scene of England's controversial 4-1 second round loss to Germany.
The stadium has a capacity of 46,000, having originally been purpose-built for the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
The ground is occasionally used by South Africa for international matches and will this year see the visit of Australia in Rugby Championship, which will be its first Springbok test since a 41-39 loss to the same opposition in 2010.
Super Rugby history
The Cheetahs' Super Rugby history is complex as between 1998 and 2005 they joined forces with the Lions for form The Cats, who played home games at both Ellis Park in Johannesburg and the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
As a stand-alone team though they appeared in the very first competition in 1997, and then every year from 2006 to 2017.
In that time they became known for playing expansive, attacking rugby, but made little impression on the Super Rugby log bar in 2013, when they finished sixth.
It remains their only play-off appearance, but they were edged 15-13 by the Brumbies in Sydney and did not advance further.
Coach
Franco Smith is viewed as one of the finest up-and-coming young coaches in South Africa and has also been seconded to the Springboks as their attack and backline tactician.
He started his playing career with the Free State Cheetahs, but the former flyhalf is more known for spells with the Bulls, Newport Dragons, and Italian teams Bologna, Treviso. He also played nine tests for the Boks between 1996 and 1999.
He was appointed assistant coach at the Cheetahs in 2005, and then led Treviso for six years between 2007 and 2013.
He returned as assistant to Naka Drotske at the Cheetahs in 2014, and was given the head coach role a year later.
Key players
The Cheetahs have a number of players with recent international experience, including loose-forward Oupa Mohojé, who started the first test in the recent Bok 3-0 whitewash of France before being forced off injured.
Ghana-born wing Raymond Rhule played in all three of those tests and has pace to burn, while Uzair Cassiem played for the South African 'A' side against the French Barbarians in June and has previous Bok experience.
Prop Ox Nche was also in that side, along with centre and captain Francois Venter, who is also a full South African international.
Sergeal Petersen is a wing with plenty of potential and on his day can be devastating.
SOUTHERN KINGS
Where are they from
The Southern Kings hail from the South African coastal city of Port Elizabeth, known variously as the Windy City for its near constant breeze of various strengths, and the Friendly City.
They play their home games at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, which was purpose-built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has become an iconic venue for both rugby and soccer.
South Africa will play their opening match of the 2017 Rugby Championship against Argentina at the venue, and also hosted New Zealand there in 2011 and New Zealand in 2012.
Super Rugby history
The Southern Kings have featured in three seasons of Super Rugby and their latest, and last, in 2017 has been by far their most successful.
They debuted in 2013 when they played in the place of the Johannesburg-based Lions after pressure on SA Rugby to include a team from what is considered a rugby-rich region of the country.
They won just three of their 16 matches though and finished in last place on the Super Rugby log.
They returned to the competition for a second season in 2016 when the competition was expanded and South Africa handed six franchises, but again they struggled with two wins from 15 games. They were second to last behind the Sunwolves.
After a slow start to 2017, they have become a force six wins, including success against the more fancied Waratahs (away), Sharks (home), Jaguares (away) and Bulls (away).
Coach
Deon Davids has led the Kings for the past two seasons, having had a low-profile career as both a player and coach before that.
He was a loose-forward in his playing days, but spent all his time playing club matches and never reached the domestic provincial game.
The 49-year-old was previously coach of the provincial Boland Cavaliers in Currie Cup rugby, and also assistant coach for both the Emerging Springboks and South Africa Under-20 side.
He led the Golden Lions in the minor Vodacom Cup tournament in 2011 & 2012, a competition that was run concurrently with Super Rugby for players that did not reach that level.
He was appointed Kings coach in 2016 and also leads the minor provincial side the South Western Districts Eagles in the Currie Cup.
Key players
Much of their play revolves around flyhalf Lionel Cronje, who has previously played for the Stormers, Sharks and Brumbies, and brings experience and knowhow.
The team has pace and skill in the backline, with wing Makazole Mapimpi and the versatile Malcolm Jaer epitomising that.
Scrumhalf Louis Schreuder was previously with the Stormers and also played in Japan, while among the loose-forwards Chris Cloete has been a stand-out this season.
Lock Mzwanele Zito has been excellent in the second half of the Super Rugby season, while prop and captain Schalk Ferreira comes with bags of experience.