Updated March 22, 2019 15:42:51

Photo: The Sunwolves will leave Super Rugby after the 2020 season. (AP: Shane Wenzlick)

The Japan-based Sunwolves will be cut from Super Rugby in 2021, with the competition to revert to 14 teams in a move that will have an impact on Australia's four teams.

The axing of the Sunwolves, who play in the Australian conference, means the current three-conference system will be scrapped after the 2020 season, with each team to play 13 matches during the home-and-away campaign.

There will be fewer matches between the Australian teams — the Waratahs, Reds, Brumbies and Rebels — as they will each only play three local derbies every two seasons from 2021 onwards, as opposed to three per year under the current format.

"SANZAAR has announced that following a substantial review of Super Rugby over the last 18 months via a strategic planning process, the immediate future of Super Rugby rests with a 14-team, round robin, competition format," Super Rugby's governing body said in a statement.

"The revised format will come into operation and kick off in 2021.

"The Sunwolves from Japan will drop out of the existing 15-team Super Rugby competition at the end of the 2020 season."

Photo: The Sunwolves have been playing in the Australian conference alongside teams such as Queensland. (AP: Koji Sasahara)

The Sunwolves, who have won just seven of their 43 matches since joining Super Rugby, avoided the chop when the Western Force, along with South Africa's Southern Kings and Cheetahs, were cut from the competition ahead of the 2018 season.

The three-conference system proved unpopular with fans and broadcasters, with SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos explaining the decision to cut the Sunwolves was made "to further consolidate the competition format" and "was not taken lightly".

"It has involved some detailed analysis and a thorough review of the current and future rugby landscape, tournament costs, commercial and broadcast considerations and player welfare in line with our strategic plan," Mr Marinos said.

"Competition integrity, affordability and a competitive playing environment were further key drivers to ensure that an optimal player development pathway remains in place to feed into international rugby.

"Factoring in the above analysis and review, a 14- or 15-team round-robin format was considered, as these models delivered best against the criteria we were seeking, including a format that would see each team playing every other team leading into a finals series."

The announcement comes as the Sunwolves, who sit fourth in the Australian conference with only one win from five matches, prepare to host South African side the Lions in Singapore.

AAP/ABC

Topics: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, australia, japan, new-zealand, south-africa, argentina

First posted March 22, 2019 15:39:11