The move comes after the ARU reported a loss of A$8.4 million for the year ending December 31 2007.
ARU chairman, Peter McGrath, said: "If we want rugby to have a greater footprint in Australia, if we want to have a stronger competitive position against the other major football codes, then we need to advance. We need to push for an expansion of Super rugby and explore the introduction of private equity, which has not previously been permissible under ARU policy. We are now a mature professional sport. It is time to look at embracing it."
The ARU accredits the loss to a falling participation rates and increased competition from other winter sports codes.
