MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The ACT Brumbies have dismissed suggestions of a merger with the Melbourne Rebels as the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) prepares to cut one of its five Super Rugby teams. Some local media outlets and rugby pundits have been pushing for a merger between the Brumbies and Rebels, saying it would cement the Brumbies' place in Super Rugby and retain a presence in the much larger sports market of Melbourne. Brumbies CEO Michael Thomson said a merger would only serve to "kill" both clubs and dismissed any notion his side needed help to survive. "We're not looking at merging or contemplating a move to Melbourne, we are stable on our own two feet and in a far better position than a majority of Super Rugby teams," he told Fairfax Media. As part of the changes to next year's Super Rugby competition, two teams are to be cut from the South African conference, with the Southern Kings and Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs seen as the most under threat.

Source: The Star April 26, 2017 03:11 UTC