It has always been 16 teams at least for the last decade. Extra teams qualifying from
VMSL/
FVSL/
VISL is big news as is seeded teams.
__________________
Take the piss (out of someone) vb. British -- to mock, deride, poke fun (at). This vulgarism has been in widespread use since the late 1940s. The original idea evoked by the expression was that of deflating someone, recalling the description of a self-important blusterer as 'all piss and wind.'