The Taranaki Rugby Union have been asked to provide further information after impressing the New Zealand Rugby Union with their bid to become Super rugby's 15th franchise from 2011.
The NZRU appeared lukewarm to ideas of a sixth franchise in New Zealand when expressions of interest were lodged by Taranaki and Hawke's Bay last month saying a bid would need to be a compelling one for it to be put forward to SANZAR, the governing body for the Tri-Nations and Super rugby tournaments.
TRU chief executive Mark Robinson presented their proposal to the NZRU at a meeting in Wellington last Friday and has now been asked to provide further detail.
Taranaki's bid has the backing of Venture Taranaki, the region's development agency, and the New Plymouth District Council.
Former Taranaki man Stephen Jennings, one of New Zealand's richest men who runs Moscow-based global investment bank Renaissance Capitals, has also been linked to the bid.
The NZRU will have a more detailed look at Taranaki's proposal next week and then decide if it should be forwarded to SANZAR.
Hawke's Bay have withdrawn their expression of interest saying the seven day deadline was not long enough to present a professional business case, although they remain committed to the concept.
Chief executive Mike Bishop said when the union applied for top tier status in the provincial Air New Zealand Cup four years ago it took months and cost NZ$150,000 to put together.
‘We are talking about something in the vicinity of NZ$8-12 million business case here and that's not something I would be prepared to try and put together in seven days,’ he told Radio Sport.
The 15th franchise will be based in the Australian conference of the revamped competition and three parties from Victoria, two from Queensland and one from Western Sydney remain in discussions with the Australian Rugby Union.
The South African Rugby Union have already forwarded on the Port Elizabeth-based Southern Kings' proposal to Sanzar who will consider final bid documents in late September and make their decision by late October.
