The Crusaders and the Melbourne Rebels will be heading to Singapore for a Super Rugby pre-season friendly, with other Australian sides possibly set to follow their lead.
Asia is regarded as one of the fastest growing markets for rugby and has already had a Bledisloe Cup match played on the continent, and now Super Rugby appears ready to follow suit.
Rebels chiefs executive Steve Boland believes that having more big rugby teams playing in Asia will help the contient ahead of the 2019 World Cup, which will be hosted by Japan.
"We have signed a contract with a Singapore promoter to play Super Rugby trial matches with the Crusaders," Boland told The Australian.
"It's only 50-50 that we will pull it off for 2012, but we will definitely be there in 2013 and 2014.
"Asia is an important market. We are all over it like a rash. It's great to have a team like the Crusaders share our vision.
"Super Rugby gets very good television coverage up there.
"There is a great expatriate market in Singapore, which has six and a half thousand registered players. If we have a connection with Singapore and the Rebels become the Super Rugby team of choice, that will be fantastic."
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