Tenders from Japan and Singapore will vie for a licence to enter the Super Rugby competition in 2016, governing body SANZAR has confirmed.
A decision is slated to be reached in September/October.
"We are now able to confirm that two parties from Asia will compete for the opportunity to join an expanded Super Rugby competition in 2016," SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said.
"Asia is a region that has been the focus of considerable investment by the International Rugby Board in recent years and is a strategically sound location for the evolution of Super Rugby.
"We were happy with the number of responses received, however the two stand-out expressions of interest that were most attractive to the SANZAR Unions were received from Japan and Singapore."
The two bidders now have until mid-August to submit formal tender documents to be one of the 18 teams playing in 2016.
The other two teams added to the 15-franchise structure will be the Kings from South Africa's Eastern Cape and a team based in Argentina.
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