The race to become the 18th Super Rugby franchise in 2016 took an intriguing twist on Wednesday.
According to media reports Japan and Singapore, the contestants in the two-horse race, are going to put their names in the same hat and share the games.
If the reports, quoting various sources, are to be believed, Japan have stolen the march on rival Singapore – but only because they offered to host matches in Singapore.
This, they believe, will negate concerns from South Africa about additional travel times.
The considerably longer journey was believed to be Japan’s main stumbling block in their bid to edge out Singapore and join the Southern Hemisphere competition in 2016 – along with South Africa’s Southern Kings and an Argentine based team.
The 18th side would be pooled in one of the two African conferences.
That will add at least 10 hours to the flight times for teams coming from Johannesburg to Singapore, with Tokyo another eight hours by air away.
South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins was quoted as having said Japan’s bid proposal had been changed to include Singapore as a host for some of the matches.
It is understood Singapore would host up to four matches at their 55,000 seat, retractable roof National Stadium for the Japanese team, although the format and number of games in the 2016 season is yet to be determined.
Singapore Rugby Union President Low Teo Ping denied reports that Hong Kong were in the mix to stage some matches.
“Hong Kong is not part of the equation,” Low said, before shying away from questions about his confidence of Singapore’s chances of winning the SANZAR vote.
“We are supporting one bid, but we are the venue for the other bid so it doesn’t matter.”
Japan boast a burgeoning domestic league able to attract many stars, while the national team has competed at every World Cup and scored recent wins over top tier nations Wales and Italy.
Singapore’s bid is to have the Asian Pacific Dragons, a team made up of mainly Pacific Islanders backed financially by the chairman of Samoa Water Eric Series, compete at the centre piece of their new US$1-billion Sports Hub.
The side has played in invitational tournaments in the region and often drafted in former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga to coach them, but questions have been raised about being able to secure the long term availability of players contracted to other clubs.
Hoskins, though, said the race between the two remained neck-and-neck.
“They have put forward their proposals, they are really both attractive,” the South African said.
“I wish I could tell you which way SANZAR is going to go but right now SANZAR has not decided. SANZAR is considering it quite diligently. It’s very much under discussion, serious discussion.”