Rejected Warriors bidder Richard Fale has turned his attention to Super Rugby, amid speculation that a Pacific Island franchise could enter the competition from 2021.
Earlier this week, Newshub reported that the New Zealand Government had contributed $80,000 to a feasibility study, conducted by New Zealand Rugby (NZR), into basing a 'Pacific Force' team in Suva, drawing players from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
Politically, it's thought the Super Rugby venture would help combat the growing influence of China in the region.
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From a sporting perspective, NZR faces a similar challenge from rugby league, particularly NRL development programmes around the Pacific.
While Fale was frustrated at missing out on the Warriors ownership earlier this month, he told Newshub that his consortium held a strong interest in rugby and would now consider its involvement in the Force proposal.
"Definitely, we're tracking all the conversation that's going around and making phone calls to see what our options are," said the Pacific Sports International chief executive.
"[Super Rugby] was the original reason why our group came together in the first place, so we're a little further ahead of the game with this than we were with the Warriors acquisition.
"We're definitely in the preliminary stages and there should be a lot more information forthcoming over next 3-4 weeks."
But Fale, a former Republican member of the Hawaiian House of Representatives, hinted that the franchise should be based on the American island state.
"Adding the United States, to the mix through Hawaii, does expand the economic viability and potential for the organisation," he told Newshub.
"You definitely have to bring to the table a market and financial resources that are going to be attractive to the organisation, and I think the United States and Hawaii bring that."
Fale highlighted the need for rugby to strengthen its foothold in the Pacific.
"For a country like Tonga, there has been a huge lurch towards rugby league," he said. "There's even discussion that major sponsors and groups who host major rugby events around Tonga are shifting their competitions to rugby league.
"There definitely needs to be a greater catering towards the growth and sustainability of the sport within the islands, or you're going to see rugby league making significant headway in those areas.
"Already I've seen it among my little nephews. All they want to be now are either Jason Taumalolo or Tui Lolohea or David Fusitu'a.
Taumalolo, Lolohea and Fusitu'a were stars of the Tongan team that defeated the NZ Kiwis at last year's Rugby League World Cup, en route to the semi-finals.
"They definitely have caught the bug of rugby league and that's going to manifest itself in the next 5-10 years on the world map, if rugby union doesn't do something to capture the dreams and hopes of these little kids."
Newshub.
