Islanders may face the All Blacks in 2005

The Pacific Islanders are unlikely to be included in an expanded Super 12 series next season, and they will not be participating in a Four-Nations tournament anytime soon, but rugby's most recent Test side may play their next international match as early as next season.

The Islanders played historic Test matches against the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks in June this year, going down to all three of their bigger southern hemisphere cousins, but most critics felt they had done enough to survive as a team.

And the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) have given the composite team further hope by revealing that they may be in line for a one-off Test ahead of the All Blacks series against the British and Irish Lions in 2005.

"We are looking at trying to have a warm-up match and there are a variety of options," NZRU Chief Executive Chris Moller told NZPA.

"We've approached a number of parties and the Pacific Islanders are included in that, but nothing's been decided."

Moller said that All Blacks coach Graham Henry wanted the team to play an additional Test two weeks before the first Test against the Lions in Christchurch on June 25.

The Lions play New Zealand Maori in Hamilton on June 11, and Moller said the All Blacks match could be played a day earlier, the following day or even on Monday, June 13.