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Expanding the Super Rugby competition to include countries such as Argentina and Japan will be discussed at a series of meetings next month.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive, Steve Tew, has confirmed the prospect of expansion beyond Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and also new methods of broadcasting will be on the table when South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby (Sanzar) officials negotiate their model beyond 2016.

South Africa's desire to field six teams after the 15-team structure winds up in 2015 has prompted officials to consider a different format.

One possibility is for teams to play matches only within their own conference through the regular season, followed by a wider, inter-conference finals series.

Teams from Argentina or Japan could be added into larger New Zealand and Australian conferences.

Tew doesn't want to discuss details but says the NZRU has certain "non-negotiables", including a desire that the tournament be no longer than the current model, which stretches beyond six months, and preferably shorter.

He says Argentina's involvement will hinge to some degree on that country having more control over its leading players, most of whom are contracted to northern hemisphere clubs.