Rugby-SANZAR calls for nominations for Super 15 team

SYDNEY, July 9 (Reuters) - Expressions of interest from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia for a potential team wishing to join an expanded Super 15 competition from 2011 have been called for by SANZAR, the competition's governing body.

Australia currently have four teams while South Africa and New Zealand have five each and SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby) has already announced the 15th team will play in the Australian conference but does not have to be based there.

Australia and South Africa have both indicated they plan to bid for the 15th franchise.

SANZAR also asked the Samoan Rugby Union to consider making a bid as part of their pledge to help promote rugby in the South Pacific and expand the competition further in the future.

"This is the first step in the application process to determine the location of the 15th team. SANZAR anticipates a decision will be made by November," said a SANZAR statement issued on Thursday.

"Geographical location and the time-zone of the new team will be a key consideration for SANZAR as the 15th team will play in the Australian conference."

Under the agreed proposal to expand the competition, the 15 teams will be split into three conferences, one in each country.

Each of those sides will play the teams in their own conference twice a season, home and away, to increase the number of local derby matches.

They will also play eight of the other 10 teams from the other two conferences once, either home or away.