The arrival of professional rugby in Singapore has been a long time coming for the game's supporters. But with Singapore now co-hosting Super Rugby newcomers the Sunwolves, and staging a round of the World Sevens Series, the future of the sport in Southeast Asia has never looked brighter and the game's patrons are determined to cash in and accelerate the growth.

As a nation, Singapore already punches well above its weight, having successfully transformed itself from a sleepy former British colonial outpost to a global economic powerhouse. Now fabulously rich, and boasting one of the best education systems in the world, the tiny republic is starting to flex its muscles in sport, employing the same fundamental principles of patience and careful planning that helped it prosper in the financial world.

Singapore already boasts an impressive portfolio of international sporting events, including a round of the Formula One championship, the end-of-season women's tennis championship, professional golf tournaments, world cup swimming, and soccer's Premier League Asia Trophy.

And now rugby has been added to the list with the Japanese-based Sunwolves franchise playing three matches in Singapore and the National Stadium gearing up to host a round of the HSBC Sevens World Series. The Sunwolves play the Bulls, of South Africa, in their fourth Super Rugby match -- and their second at Singapore's National Stadium -- on Saturday, March 26, looking for their first win.

For Singapore's passionate rugby community, such opportunities are heaven-sent, offering a rare first-hand look at some of the world's best players while laying the foundations for the country's ambitions to grow the game. "In the short term, Super Rugby and Sevens are going to create an awareness of our sport," Singapore Rugby Union (SRU) General Manager George Danapal said. "When you have world-renowned players coming in, the general public will take notice of it. But these games are just one part of what we're doing. Just as importantly is the transfer of knowledge and skills that we'll get from this."

Much like the game of rugby of itself, the real key to success often goes unseen: while the wingers get all their plaudits when they dive over for tries, it's often the unsung heroes at the bottom of the ruck that set up the score; and that's the same pragmatic approach the SRU is employing.

In addition to staging three matches in Singapore, the Sunwolves and the Japanese Rugby Football Union (JRFU) are working closely with the SRU to fast-track the development of the game in the region.

Each time the Sunwolves travel to Singapore, the coaching staff take the Singapore national team for training sessions. The Sunwolves also conduct clinics with local Singaporean coaches to help them improve as well as working with referees and administrators to ensure the game is run well off the pitch.

A Sunwolves fan in Singapore gives the new franchise the thumbs-up. Lionel Ng/Getty Images for Japan Sunwolves

"From the union's standpoint, we want to grow the game as much as we can so we have entered into an agreement with the JRFU, and there are plans to fly people over there as well to learn from Japan," Danapal said.

"We're also working closely with our closest neighbours because we know if we help them and create better competitions with our neighbours, we'll all benefit.

"The critical thing right now is to get as many people as possible into the stadium. Singapore is a very football dominated country, like most parts of the world and that's the number one sport here, and we want to try and give them an alternative."

Singapore's expatriate community has been the traditional lifeblood of the game in the stifling humidity of the country. There is a strong and vibrant club scene, with competitions for men, women and youths, and playing numbers are steadily growing with more and more locals being introduced to the sport, mostly through schools.

At the senior level, Singapore still has a long way to go, with the men's national team floundering at No.59 in the latest world rankings, but there are some encouraging signs for the future.

In 2012, the SRU recruited former Tonga skipper Inoke Afeaki as its technical director. Having played at three World Cups and represented the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, Afeaki knows that only time and hard work will get players to the top.

"These things don't happen overnight but I'm hugely excited about the future of rugby in Singapore," he said. "The club scene is growing, the level of rugby has improved and there's a lot of hard work going on.

"Across the planet, every community has a bunch of talented kids in sport but if they can get the right coaches and get in the right environment, they can end up being world class.

"Realistically, it will take a few years to develop these players but already two of our under 16 players and a coach have been invited to go to Wellington and do some work with the Hurricanes so things are happening."

The colour and fun of Sevens rugby will soon hit Singapore. Jeff Vinnick / Getty Images for HSBC

Afeaki says the introduction of Super Rugby and the Sevens is undoubtedly the best thing to happen to Singapore rugby in years. He expects it will not only accelerate the growth of the sport but also provide a source of inspiration to kids who may want to play the game professionally.

But he also warned that people shouldn't take these games for granted, saying they had to vote with their feet to ensure the games remain in Singapore and deliver funds to grassroots rugby.

"You couldn't wish for anything better," he said. "There's going to be great players here on show and they will capture the imagination of a lot of kids because they've got something tangible to actually see and fall in love with.

"This is the make or break for Singapore's future in rugby because these opportunities don't come along that often.

"It's a great advertisement for rugby but it needs the whole community to get excited because the support from the public for Super Rugby and the Sevens is the litmus test.

"The more people go, the more revenue we generate and the more we can spend on grass roots rugby and sending kids off to academies in different parts of the world."

The Sunwolves lost their first game in Singapore, defeated 32-31 by South Africa's Cheetahs on March 12, before a 35-9 loss to the Rebels in Tokyo on Saturday; they have lost all three games at the start of their inaugural campaign.