The understanding, signed in New Zealand, will also see the organisations assist the integration of member unions into the Olympic family.

It reinforces the significant progress being made by rugby in the Olympic arena, with Rugby Sevens making its Olympic Games debut at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and the International Rugby Board committing £16 million to the sport in the region between 2009 and 2012.

International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "This landmark agreement is an exciting step in the development of the Game that will deliver significant opportunities for Member Unions in Oceania as we count down to Rugby Sevens' Olympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

"Rugby is now the sport of choice for more men, women, boys and girls across Oceania than ever before.

"This growth is mirrored around the globe, with participation increasing by 19 per cent since Rugby World Cup 2007 and the Game now played by more than five million people in 117 countries.

"What's more, the world's largest sporting event this year, Rugby World Cup 2011, will kick off in New Zealand in less than five months time, providing a fantastic opportunity to showcase and celebrate Rugby in Oceania."

Barry Maister, a member of the International Olympic Committee and Oceania National Olympic Committees, added: "There is genuine excitement in the region that Rugby Sevens has been included on the Olympic Programme for 2016 and 2020.

"It is important that this excitement is harnessed and that the Rugby Unions work in partnership with the National Olympic Committees in each country to not only prepare for Olympic qualification but to grow the sport more broadly."

Oceania will be particularly buoyed by rugby's growing role in the Olympics, with Australia and Pacific Islands such as Fiji, Samoa and Tonga finally able to showcase their talents on the global stage in one of their strongest sports.

Indeed, of those islands, only Tonga have previously claimed an Olympic medal, when boxer Paea Wolfgramm took silver at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

FORU President and IRB Council member Tauiliili Harry Schuster said: "We are most grateful to ONOC and the ONOC Executive for the warmth with which they have welcomed us into the Olympic family.

"This Memorandum of Understanding is so important to us and we are looking forward to helping our Member Unions integrate into the Olympic Movement.

"This is new ground for us and we are committed to Rugby being an enthusiastic and active member of the Olympic family."

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