New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has formed a partnership with Oceania Rugby, which will see both organisations work together to deliver rugby programmes in the Pacific region.

The partnership will build on NZR’s Pacific Sporting Partnerships – Sport for Health programme and looks to integrate it with World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby initiative.

Oceania Rugby's general manager Bruce Cook said the partnership will look to increase participation and to create opportunities to strengthen the development of the sport in the region.

“This is an opportunity to harmonise the development work in the Pacific to ensure we're getting the best outcomes for our member unions and ensure that the social and health development outcomes for participating countries are being realised," Cook said.

“Our priority is to ensure there is clarity as to where the programmes fit and this alignment may be different from country to country and will be something we will develop in conjunction with our member unions.”

NZR will use the partnership to deliver its Pacific Sporting Partnerships programme throughout Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

The programme uses the game of QuickRip, a non-contact form of rugby, to improve the health of young people.

“This is an important step forward to help cement the Pacific Sporting Partnerships programme in the development plans in each of the countries we are operating in," said Steve Lancaster, NZR head of participation and development.

"To truly make inroads in these markets we must work closely with all rugby stakeholders and it makes sense that we work closely with Oceania Rugby and their existing programmes."

Oceania Rugby, previously known as the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions, is the regional governing body for rugby union in Oceania.