The Australian Rugby Union has told the Brumbies that their place in Super Rugby is secure.

Super Rugby will be reduced from 18 to 15 teams, with the ARU required to axe one of their five franchises.

ARU chairman Cameron Clyne and chief executive Bill Pulver confirmed on Monday that the Brumbies are no longer on the chopping block.

'At the request of the board, ARU management completed an exhaustive analysis on three of our teams – the Brumbies, the Western Force and the Melbourne Rebels,' Clyne said.

'The purpose of the analysis was to assess each of those teams on their financial sustainability, high performance and commercial factors, examining a range of metrics, with a view to identifying which of those three teams to remove from the competition.

'After reviewing management's findings, 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.'

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Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images