Cape Town - The Eastern Province Kings could lose their Currie Cup Premier Division status as SA Rugby reviews the current structure of the competition.
According to the HeraldLIVE website, SA Rugby is considering a 'strength versus strength' six-team Currie Cup tournament for 2017.
This will be a topic of discussion when SA Rugby Union bosses meet in Cape Town on Friday, December 9.
New SA Rugby president Mark Alexander is keen to boost the image of the South African game and a more competitive Currie Cup is reportedly on his agenda.
The EP Rugby Union (EPRU) was liquidated earlier this year and there were doubts about the EP Kings' participation in the nine-team Currie Cup Premier Division.
But SA Rugby came to the union’s rescue, having also taken control of the Southern Kings franchise in Super Rugby earlier this year.
EP finished last in this year's nine-team Currie Cup, losing all eight their games, while the Southern Kings ended last in Super Rugby's Africa Conference 2, winning only two of 15 games.
The EP Kings not playing in the top flight would hamper the development of the union, as well as the Southern Kings' build-up to Super Rugby - a competition in which they are assured of their participation, in 2017 at the very least..
