The Asia Pacific Dragons will use the World Tens Series in 2020 and 2021 as part of their journey towards a possible Super Rugby side from 2022.
Strike the Asia Pacific Dragons from the list of possible Pasifika entrants into an expanded Super Rugby Aotearoa competition in 2021.
While New Zealand Rugby is closing in on a decision about the 2021 competition, the Dragons insist they only want to be considered from 2022 onwards, and will instead focus on setting up a World Tens series to tap into the US market and take advantage of the Sevens format's current woes.
“We believe in order for any team to be successful in 2021 they must be already in dialogue with marketable players off-shore who can support the young talent coming through the ranks in competitions such as the Mitre 10 Cup and also in the Pacific Islands,” Sam Lawrence, the general manager of Dragons owners Carinat Sports Marketing, told Stuff on Friday.
“Super Rugby Aotearoa was brutal.
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