South African Rugby Football Union chief executive Rian Oberholzer wants to meet with his Natal counterpart Brian van Zyl to discuss the latter's vehement opposition to Super 12 regionalism.

Van Zyl believes that Western Province will support Natal in a bid for a return to a system whereby South Africa's top four provinces compete in the Super 12.

When contacted for comment on Monday, Oberholzer said: "I would prefer not to get into a debate with Brian van Zyl in the media.

"But I would like to sit down with Natal and discuss any concerns and issues they might have regarding the Super 12."

Oberholzer, a staunch advocate of the regional system, told Sportal last week that "it's now time a SA team won the Super 12.

"There can be no more excuses. We have the players and the coaches and we must now get out on to the field and do the business."

But Van Zyl's comments, made in a weekend newspaper, fly in the face of Oberholzer's challenge.

The Sharks are upset that there is likely to be a three-month rugby hiatus at Absa Stadium next season.

Rudolph Straeuli's team's first Super 12 clash is against the Bulls on February 23 in Durban. Five weeks later, after their final home fixture against the Waratahs on March 24, they leave for Australasia.

With Van Zyl clearly not confident of the Sharks reaching the playoffs or securing a home semifinal, their next game in Durban might not be until June 23.

The Sharks' itinerary also calls for them to fly between Australia and New Zealand twice. They first play the Blues and Chiefs, then fly to Brisbane to face the Reds and then return to New Zealand to play the Crusaders in Christchurch.

Van Zyl said Natal were "now more convinced than ever that the system for composing South Africa's four teams in the competition was a total failure".

"We've said it before, of course, and we're saying it again. Nothing can be done for the 2001 season, but we will continue to hammer away with our belief that a system of the top four provinces representing the country would be more beneficial all round.

"What's more, we believe that Western Province, who were previously opposed to the idea, would now support it. We will definitely appeal to Sarfu again next year to give proper consideration to a return to a top-four system."

The Sharks are also upset at the prospect of playing the Stormers in Wellington in their final league fixture upon returning to SA.

"We'll be appealing to Sarfu over this fixture," Van Zyl told the Sunday Tribune. "It's not on. The stadium isn't conducive to Super 12 rugby.

"The change-rooms are inadequate and the ground itself is not big enough to accommodate the crowd a Super 12 game deserves. This is the problem with the regional system - and why we maintain it has failed."

WP chief executive Rob Wagner, meanwhile, agrees with Van Zyl's assertion that the regional concept must be reviewed. But he denies that WP have already decided to form an alliance with Natal.

"I think Brian has mentioned Natal receiving possible support from WP because he knows how we feel about the Stormers not playing all their matches at Fedsure Park Newlands. But that's not a done deal and is still up for discussion.

"Doing away with regionalism is not something to be taken lightly. A thorough investigation needs to be conducted first," said Wagner.

"The flip side of reverting to provincial teams playing in the Super 12, as far as the Stormers are concerned, is that you lose a team that has captured the imagination of the nation.

"The Stormers, in the space of a couple of seasons, have become a recognised international brand."