Rugby's new quadrennial super 'Club World Cup' set for 2025 - report

According to a report, agreements have been made regarding the formation of a new quadrennial 'Club World Cup' that will have the biggest names in franchise rugby in the world face off in one super global tournament.

The UK's Telegraph reported on Thursday that the competition is set to comprise seven teams from the southern hemisphere, one from Japan and eight from the northern hemisphere.

The competition, a first for its kind for the sport, is set to start in 2025 and be held every four years.

South African sides, who have joined the Champions Cup as of next season, would be classified under the "northern hemisphere" banner and compete with the likes of European Champions La Rochelle from France for slots in the new competition.

According to the report, the proposal is that the top eight finishers in the Champions Cup (i.e. quarter-finalists) would make the north's eight.

Meanwhile, the south would be made up of the top six Super Rugby Pacific teams plus the highest-ranked Pacific Island side in that tournament and the Japan Rugby League One winners.

Organisers are also said to be aiming to host the competition in a British & Irish Lions year to heighten interest.