Viewed as stage one in an overall plan to increase Super Rugby's footprint across member countries South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, the recommendation came out of a three-day SANZAR workshop in Perth.

The proposal will now be forwarded to the individual national unions and major stakeholders in the SANZAR countries for their consideration and support.

SANZAR Board members also absorbed a number of ideas around alternative competition structures, including increasing the number of teams and possibly rearranging the current Test schedule for the southern hemisphere.

It was acknowledged that significant changes to the existing Super Rugby format would have an impact on the traditional Tri Nations window utilised by SANZAR countries and may impact on other areas of the international schedule.

Alternatives to the current Test schedule and the timing of international matches remain, like Super Rugby expansion, a work in progress.