The New Zealand Rugby Union has dampened suggestions the Super 14 competition could be expanded to two rounds and include a team based in Japan.

ARU chief executive John O'Neill (pictured right) had suggested the new competition run from February until August and 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 said.

However, his NZRU counterpart Steve Tew (pictured left) 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 said.

"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.

"We wouldn't dismiss John's thoughts out of hand... we see the gateway to Asia as being important."

Reuters