The SANZAR unions of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia have proposed a six-team finals series - rather than the usual four - be brought in for 2009 as a precursor to further changes likely to be implemented as early as 2010.
SANZAR have already expressed their wish to expand the Super rugby competition further after it was increased to 14 teams from 12 teams two years ago.
Meetings with the Pacific Island nations (Fiji, Tonga and Samoa), Japan, Argentina, the United States and Canada have already taken place but New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said there was still much more work to do.
Tew explained the extended play-off series for 2009, which will increase the length of the competition by one week, was simply a step towards the overall revamp of Super rugby, which some critics argue has gone stale.
‘We are absolutely looking at a different approach to Super rugby come 2011 and possibly as early as 2010,’ Tew said after a three-day SANZAR workshop in Perth.
‘We're signalling that the change is under way and looking at expanding the play-off series next year to six teams.
‘It's a one-year step into a much bigger reform of a competition where hopefully it won't be the same.
‘It's based on market research. We've had feedback both formally and anecdotally that the interest in Super rugby intensifies as we get nearer the play-offs and then all of a sudden it's gone.’
He added: ‘Adding another week to Super rugby in isolation wouldn't be as well received as if it was part of an expansion and development programme that we are committing to over a period of time.
‘That's why it is part of a package. We in New Zealand wouldn't support adding a week in isolation, starting one week earlier in 2009 and nothing else happening.
‘We're prepared to make a compromise in 2009 provided that the end game's got a different look about it.’
Tew expected a final decision on the 2009 proposal, which had been made in consultation with the players and coaches, to come ‘within the next few weeks’.
