Japan's Super Rugby plans remain uncertain

Will Japanese fans have a Super Rugby team to support next season? Photo / File

Japan's chances of playing in next year's expanded Super rugby series remain uncertain.

They have been included in a preliminary draw which has been shown to other sides, the broadcasters and financial partners and Sanzar hope to make some announcement sometime next week.

Until then though it is a maybe, maybe not situation.

Sanzar executives held another telephone hookup today to talk through developments and NZR chief executive Steve Tew said they still needed more information from the Japanese franchise.

They were working "very hard" to take their spot in the 2016 competition alongside other new entrants from Argentina and South Africa.

Were Japan any closer to being involved?

"They are in the competition and we have agreed they will take part in it and we have a draw ready to go with them in it," Tew said.

"They have not reached some of the milestones that we wanted them to reach on time but they are working very hard to catch that up and the report we got this morning showed a reasonable amount of progress actually.

"There are still a couple of areas we require a little more comfort, is probably the best way to put it. That is just not quite at a point where we could say that's hunky-dory but it's not at a point where we could say anything else either."

Japan has already missed several deadlines to come up with substantive information about their administration plans with coaching and playing rosters.

"We are just making sure we give them as much time as we can to get it right," Tew said.

Sanzar was confident the Southern Kings would be ready to take their place in next year's series. Every new side who was involved, took some time to settle into the demands and rhythm of the tournament.

"Argentina looks really good, the Kings will be okay and Japan we have some work to do," Tew said.