The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has reportedly dampened suggestions that the Super 14 competition could be expanded to two rounds and include a team based in Japan, according to Reuters on Thursday.
Australian Rugby Union (ARU) Chief Executive John O'Neill had suggested the new competition run from February until August and would be split into two rounds -- the first a round robin format before the second split into locally based competitions.
"We're trying to expand Super rugby to 26 weeks. And the possibility of joint-venturing a team in Japan, with half the team Japanese and the other half foreign players -- predominantly Australian -- is worth a look," O'Neill told the Sydney Morning Herald.
However, his NZRU counterpart Steve Tew said the proposals were at the preliminary stage.
"John has floated one option that would clearly suit the Australian set of circumstances, probably better than ourselves or South Africa," Tew told the New Zealand Press Association.
"There are any number of things we would need to consider, though, in terms of finding our position."
Tew agreed that Japan held enormous commercial opportunities to expand the game, but stronger rugby nations in the Pacific Islands and Argentina also needed to be considered.
"There needs to be a more strategic look at how Super rugby might unfold," he added.
