Verster, reacting to an announcement made by SARFU President Brian van Rooyen on Wednesday, said the news came as "the shock of his life". Van Rooyen announced that Western Province, the Lions, the Blue Bulls and the Sharks would become the four franchises representing South Africa from 2005.

Speaking to the website News24 on Thursday, after a meeting to plan the road ahead for Free State, Verster insisted he would "stand up and fight" to keep the Cheetahs alive.

The decision to dismiss the Cheetahs was taken because they are apparently not a "commercially viable" Super 12 franchise.

Van Rooyen’s announcement came after a "long and hard" debate at a SARFU ’bosberaad’ (think tank) last weekend.

Verster denied that he was part of the bosberaad negotiations. "On the Friday evening, the top four Unions came together and did the deal," he told News24. "It was a negotiation behind closed doors. A trade-off."

According to Verster, the four Super 12 Unions (Blue Bulls, WP, Lions and Sharks) offered the ’smaller Unions’ a return to a 14-team Currie Cup - in exchange for support for the new Super 12 structure.

"Free State weren’t consulted, and by Saturday morning it was over and out," said Verster. "When I heard, I got the shock of my life because everything was sealed and signed."

However, Verster believes all is not lost.

"We’re not happy by far, but mine was the only voice against, so I must accept it. The first prize is Super 12, but we can’t go and sit on a heap because of this. We’re not down in the dumps."

There is hope for Free State, who could find themselves involved in a new ’International Provincial Competition’, along with teams from Ireland, the Pacific nations, Japan, Argentina, and possibly even Australia.

The Cheetahs’ consolation prize for missing out on the Super 12, will see them compete in a new a ’second tier’ competition, which was touched on in a statement from SARFU on Wednesday.

While no details were given about this new competition in the statement - it was merely referred to as "a further International Provincial Competition for three more provincial teams" - Verster was able to shed some more light on it.

"The President [Brian van Rooyen] has given me his word that we’ll be involved in the new competition," said Verster to Planet Rugby. "It’s totally separate from the Super 12 and it will include teams from Ireland, the Pacific nations, Japan, Argentina, and possibly even Australia.

"I do hope it works out as the tournament has some potential, although it is basically just a consolation prize for us after missing out on the Super 12."

Cheetahs loose forward Rassie Erasmus, who will coach the Vodacom Cup side this season, was also bitterly disappointed with the decision to exclude Free State from the Super 12.

"Even if this was purely a business decision, and not a rugby one, I believe it’s wrong," he told Planet Rugby. "If it was based purely on business, then we should be helped out financially, not just simply pushed aside.

"Our results have been good over the last few years. We consistently finish amongst the top few teams in the Currie Cup and we also more than meet our requirements when it comes to quotas. More often than not we have four or five non-white players in our team - all on merit - surely that should mean something?

"The players, here, are really worried," continued Erasmus. "In the past, guys would stay here for less money because it’s such an enjoyable place to play rugby. But now if the youngsters stay here they can’t play Super 12 - and they all need to play Super 12 rugby to make the Bok side.

"I just hope that Brian van Rooyen keeps his promise and allows us to get involved in a new, separate, competition, involving provincial teams from other countries."

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