THE first steps toward creating a Pacific Island Super Rugby team could be taken via the NRC, with confirmation expected on Friday that Fiji will enter the domestic Australian tournament.

The nine-team competition will kick off on September 2, and Fiji is set to play its first match at Ballymore against Brisbane City.

It’s believed Fiji will host their first NRC game in round three in Sigatoka, against NSW Country Eagles.

With uncertainty surrounding the future format of Super Rugby, momentum seems to be gaining for the Pacific Islands to finally have a team in the tournament by 2021.

For that to eventuate, there needs to be evidence that island nations can successfully sustain competitive teams and host matches at quality stadiums over the next three years.

Fiji is being given the opportunity to do just that by joining the NRC.

The nation hosted a Super Rugby game earlier this year, while Samoa hosted another.

media_camera A Fiji team is set to play in Aussie domestic championship.

The 18-team Super Rugby format is clearly not working, with television audiences and live attendees falling rapidly, leading SANZAAR to agree to cut the competition back to 15 teams from 2018.

South Africa has already cut their two mandated teams, the Cheetahs and Southern Kings, who are set to join the northern hemisphere’s Pro12 competition.

This is seen as a test in the waters by SARU to see if it would be viable for them to move full-time to a northern hemisphere tournament.

If the South Africans are genuinely exploring the possibility of leaving the southern hemisphere competition by the time the broadcast deal expires in 2020, the whole SANZAAR organisation would be broken up.

A Pacific Island team would be able to harness the massive support of Super Rugby throughout Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

Intriguingly, Fiji has qualified for the 2019 World Cup and will be in the Wallabies’ pool.

There is the prospect that the Australian system will help develop players who could ultimately hurt Australia’s chances at the World Cup in Japan, but organisers see the addition of the side as a valuable investment for the future.

The NRC rose in popularity last season and has produced Wallabies including Samu Kerevi, Reece Hodge, Rory Arnold and Joe Powell.

Defending champions Perth Spirit will be confirmed starters for this year’s NRC, despite the prospect of the ARU axing the Western Force from Super Rugby in August.

The nine teams in this year’s NRC will be: Fiji, Sydney Rays, Greater Sydney Rams, NSW Country Eagles, Canberra Vikings, Brisbane City, Queensland Country, Perth Spirit and Melbourne Rising.