Western Force will play in a new competition called Global Rapid Rugby

A $1 million prize will be on offer to the winner of Global Rapid Rugby now Andrew Forrest’s bold venture has won the tick it needed.

Andrew Forrest addresses Force players after they beat the Fiji Warriors in a World Series Rugby match in Perth in May. Picture: Getty Images

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A $1 million prize will be on offer to the winner of Global Rapid Rugby now Andrew Forrest’s bold venture has won the tick it needed.

The mining magnate’s vision to create a new pathway for his beloved Western Force after their Super Rugby axing has won approval from World Rugby.

The World Rugby Council has conditionally sanctioned the competition for a February kick-off.

It is only conditional because processes are still ongoing to confirm the final two teams to compete beside six locked-in teams.

Definite starters are the Asia Pacific Dragons, based out of Singapore, a team from Hong Kong, a team from Malaysia, a Fijian side, a Samoan side and the Force.

Andrew Forrest addresses Force players after they beat the Fiji Warriors in a World Series Rugby match in Perth in May. Picture: Getty Images

A company-based team from Japan is still in need of Japanese Rugby Football Union approval to compete while another team from the Asia-Pacific region, run by a private consortium, is being finalised.

An eight-team competition would embrace 14 rounds and 60 games, including finals.

In today’s announcement, Global Rapid Rugby spruiked that “up to 20 of the world’s best players” would be competition marquees.

The Global Rapid Rugby platform is pitching games of 70 minutes with new and revised laws to improve ball-in-play time.

Global Rapid Rugby founder Forrest described the World Rugby Council decision as an historic moment for the sport and fans in the Asia Pacific region.

“It has not been a simple road,” Forrest said.

Andrew Forrest embraces Ian Prior of the Western Force following the World Series Rugby match between the Force and Japan’s Wild Knights in Perth in August. Picture: Getty Images

“I’d like to thank everyone that has been bold and brave enough to support this brand-new competition.

“Like all sports, rugby needs to evolve. The modern sports public is spoilt for choice and demands easily digestible, fast-paced action.

“The potential for rugby to flourish in Asia and for the sport to benefit local communities is central to Rapid Rugby’s mission.

“There’s something about rugby which builds communities, bands people together, gives joy across communities.”

A statement issued by World Rugby after its council meeting in Dublin read: “Conditional sanctioning was granted for the Global Rapid Rugby tournament subject to approval from participating unions.

“The competition aims to further rugby’s spread across the Asia-Pacific area, providing high performance competition for emerging nations.”

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