Players are growing increasingly frustrated as the Super Rugby overhaul saga continues to drag on, with the ARU yet to announce if it will cut the Western Force or the Melbourne Rebels.

The Force and the Rebels are trying to drag the ACT Brumbies back on to the chopping block, but the Canberra club's finances, on-field performances and stability has ensured its safety.

The uncertainty is hitting the players because those who are off contract are not allowed to sign contracts for next year and beyond until a decision is made on the Force and Rebels' future.

Fardy, who will move to Ireland at the end of the year, hit out the drawn out process but said it shouldn't come as a surprise because Super Rugby has a history of dragging its feet on big decisions.

"It's disappointing it has taken this long, but are you surprised?" Fardy said.

"This is the game we're in. It's been like this for a long time, the officialdom has always been like that in my time because you've got a lot of guys in suits who you never see in this game.

"Everyone looks at the ARU at the moment, but you wouldn't know who the head of SANZAAR [Super Rugby's governing body] is, I wouldn't know what he looked like.

"In other sports in Australia we have a head we can look at. But in SANZAAR rugby we don't, it's faceless men in suits in board rooms and it's the same with the judicial process.

"It doesn't surprise me it's gone this long, with the different entities ... it's a mess."

Part of the problem is players don't identify with Super Rugby hierarchy, including chief executive Andy Marinos, because they never see him.

It is hoped the damage of culling three teams from Super Rugby will instigate a major reform of the competition's operations and structure.

"I hope we get change so we're not having these same conversations in five or 10 years time," Fardy said.

"Structural change has to happen. I supported five teams [in Australia] and I still do, I think we've got the players to have that. Hopefully we see changes for the benefit of rugby and this competition gets better."

The Brumbies have restarted negotiations with a host of players, but the ARU will not register any contracts until it has axed the Force or the Rebels.

The Force and the Rebels have threatened legal action against the ARU, which is set to see a prolonged process and continued frustration.

It leaves players in limbo, particularly in Canberra where more than 20 players are waiting to be offered new deals.

Players with existing contracts at the Force or Rebels will have to fit into the remaining teams but the ARU is yet to decide if it will increase the salary cap or squad sizes for next year to accommodate for the upheaval.

"The players are still going through it now because as far as I know, guys can't be contracted.

"It's the livelihood for guys. I feel for guys at the Force and the Rebels. There are still guys here [at the Brumbies] who don't know their future at the moment.

"It's incredibly tough for the players to have to go through that."

The Brumbies play the defending champion Wellington Hurricanes in Napier on Friday night as they fight to end a New Zealand losing hoodoo.

A Super Rugby loophole will allow Hurricanes playmaker Beauden Barrett to play, despite being penalised with three yellow cards in the past two games.

Players who receive three yellow cards face suspension, but because Barrett, the reigning World Rugby player of the year, got two in one game and fronted the judiciary, his yellow card count was restarted.

SUPER RUGBY ROUND NINE

Friday: Wellington Hurricanes v ACT Brumbies at McLean Park, Napier, 5.35pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 1.