Rugby-Brumbies safe, Australia to axe one of Force, Rebels

SYDNEY, April 10 (Reuters) - The Australian team to be axed from Super Rugby for next season will be either the Western Force or the Melbourne Rebels after the ACT Brumbies were removed from the process, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said on Monday.

The decision over which team will be culled will be announced over the next three days, ARU chairman Cameron Clyne told a news conference in Sydney.

"The Board made the decision to eliminate the Brumbies from the process and identified that consultation is required with both the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels to further understand their financial position," he said.

"We don't anticipate this final consultation period being a drawn-out process and expect to be able to deliver an outcome in the very near future."

Governing body SANZAAR on Sunday said three teams, one from Australia and two from South Africa, would be axed from Super Rugby as the mainly southern hemisphere competition reverts to 15 teams for next season.

South African Rugby have begun "internal consultations" over which teams they will cut. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Amlan Chakraborty)