The race for the extra place in an expanded Super 15 competition from 2011 has turned into a two-way battle between Australian entry Melbourne and South Africa's Port Elizabeth.

This follows after the New Zealand Rugby Union decided not to submit a formal bid for the 15th Super Rugby team.

The NZRU said on Monday it had received preliminary interest from the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, who withdrew from the process earlier this month, and a group in Taranaki.

Both provinces feed into the existing Wellington Hurricanes franchise.

However, the NZRU said they would not put the Taranaki bid through to governing body SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) for further consideration.

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