Super Rugby Pacific is set for a summer shake-up, with two New Zealand teams to feature in pre-season matches in Japan early next year.

Stuff understands the Chiefs and Blues https://superrugbywatch.com/ will each play two fixtures against clubs from the Japan Rugby League One competition, in what is set to be the start of an annual, likely lucrative, voyage there for Kiwi sides.

The move comes off the back of New Zealand Rugby earlier this year signing a MOU with the Japan Rugby Football Union, which, when announced in May, said it would “deepen the relationship between the two national unions and grow the game across the Asia Pacific region”.

It specifically mentioned there would “be a commitment to explore opportunities for New Zealand-based Super Rugby teams to play Japan League One teams outside of core Super Rugby Pacific competition windows”.

Rugby Australia also signed a MOU with Japan in July and is likely to follow suit with its Super sides in the future.

While the fixtures are still being finalised, it’s understood they will take place on Saturday, February 3 and Saturday, February 10 and will involve the top four teams from last season’s Japan competition.