Andrew Forrest has detailed how he plans to build "the most popular rugby competition in the world", with the mining billionaire hoping to obtain both World Rugby and the ARU's tick of approval in the next three weeks.
Forrest has revealed key details of the mooted Indo-Pacific Rugby Championship (IPRC), vowing to fund a six-team league that will launch in either 2018 or 2019.
Super Rugby outcasts Western Force would be the only Australian outfit involved - although Forrest has already flagged future expansion.
Forrest rowed with the ARU because of its decision to cut the Force but has since been consulting with its board and World Rugby.
Forrest wants the ARU to approve the IPRC in principle, confirm the eligibility of Wallabies and nominate a preferred competition window by Thursday.
The WA-based philanthropist, who has already sounded out star Wallabies plus potential Asian backers, then aims to present his IPRC vision at a World Rugby board meeting on November 14.
"The most popular rugby competition in the world," Forrest told reporters in Sydney, when asked about his long-term vision.
"I have a reputation for doing what I say I'm going to do.
"Six clubs, six markets in a time zone that captures 60 per cent of the world's population.
"This will not be short of risk ... this is not for the faint-hearted. It's not within the budget of any realms of imagination of the ARU.
"I'm prepared to underwrite that .. if an investor wants to come in and they've got more than capital to offer I'll look at it. If it's just capital I'm not interested."
Forrest is yet to nominate a salary cap but suggested the IPRC would offer lucrative contracts that could help stem the flood of Australians to foreign leagues, in turn strengthening Australia's bid to win the 2019 World Cup.
"We can counterbalance what the Europeans can offer, what the Japanese can offer," he said.
"It's our intention to stop our best players leaving, bring our best players back.
"We can share a cost (with a Super Rugby franchise)."
He wants to develop the sport in untapped markets throughout Asia and flagged IPRC being "the petri dish" for World Rugby to trial major rule changes.
"It could be anything. It could be more points for a try, it could be hands in the ruck," Forrest said.
Forrest admitted the project would never have launched if not for the ARU dealing "a very heavy hand of injustice" to the Force's fans and players.
"In the ARU board meeting yesterday I said some of the strongest metals are forged in the hottest fires. We did start our relationship in a very tumultuous way," he said.
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