Rugby bodies in Asia are interested in billionaire Western Force backer Andrew Forrest's planned rebel competition.
Continental association Asia Rugby has expressed a desire to soon begin discussing the proposal and Hong Kong Rugby Union has revealed it will consider participation.
"We here in Asia Rugby have certainly been watching with interest the developments with Western Force and the statements from Andrew Forrest," Asia Rugby general manager Ross Mitchell told AAP.
"It is obviously a potentially very exciting time for us all.
"As yet we have not been formally engaged in any discussions so I am afraid at this time we are unable to provide any specific details.
"But hopefully that shall not be for long."
Forrest on Tuesday vowed to launch the breakaway competition after the Force's failed Supreme Court appeal to stay in Super Rugby.
The mining magnate revealed few details but said the competition would feature six teams, with the Perth-based side one of them.
Hong Kong Rugby Union chief rugby operations officer Dai Rees said his organisation would be "crazy not to look at" the proposal.
"It's a seven-hour flight to Perth and it's in the same time zone. When you look around the world at other opportunities, that's not a long flight," he was quoted by the South China Morning Post.
"We've been looking to add a team to the Japanese league and looking at opportunities to expand our base and bridge the gap between our domestic game and the international game as it moves into a more professional era."
Rees said neither Forrest nor any other Australian-based rugby officials had yet approached the HKRU to discuss the proposal.
But Western Force players are being encouraged not to turn their back on Australian Rugby Union despite its decision to axe the club.
Former Force star Drew Mitchell said squad members would be better off vying to join one of the four other Australian franchises.
"I'd exhaust my options here in Australia," Mitchell told Fox Sports.
"I would play at a level that would actually better my career rather than going to play against understrength sides.
"It's great for him (Forrest) to come up with something like this but if there's no flesh to the bones, I think we'd be better off not talking about it."
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