Super Rugby teams set for pre-season games in Asia

Super Rugby's Melbourne Rebels and Canterbury Crusaders have agreed to play pre-season games in Singapore in a bid to tap into a growing appetite for the sport in Asia.

Rugby union is a growing sport in Asia, with Hong Kong and the Japanese capital of Tokyo having staged Bledisloe Cup matches between Australia and New Zealand, and Japan scheduled to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Rebels Chief Executive Steve Boland believes that Singapore's large expatriate community will boost interest in the contests, telling The Australian newspaper "we have signed a contract with a Singapore promoter to play Super Rugby trial matches with the Crusaders.

"There is a great expatriate market in Singapore, which has 6,500 registered players. If we have a connection with Singapore and the Rebels become the Super Rugby team of choice, that will be fantastic."

Boland added that Singapore is also likely to host pre-season matches in 2013 and 2014, adding "Asia is an important market.

"We are all over it like a rash. It's great to have a team like the Crusaders share our vision."

Fellow Super Rugby teams the Brumbies and NSW Waratahs are also reported to be considering playing games in Asia.