Top rugby union officials have agreed to scrap plans for an annual match between the winners of the Six Nations and Tri-Nations championships.

International Rugby Board officials discussed the idea with rugby chiefs from the sport's leading countries but decided a play-off between the champions of northern and southern hemispheres was not feasible.

Instead, a "world series" between the top teams north and south of the equator would be looked at instead, according to Steve Tew, chief executive officer of the New Zealand Rugby Union.

"One of the things we discussed was the possibility of the Tri-Nations winner playing the Six Nations champion," he said at a news conference this morning to announce Hong Kong's hosting of a Bledisloe Cup test in November. "That possibility has now been taken off the table."

Tew said the IRB's discussions were now focused on the proposed inter-hemisphere series, which would be a biennial event played when there is neither a World Cup nor a British and Irish Lions tour.

"The IRB staff . . .  feel the world series concept has more potential to grow and become a truly effective proposition than just a one-off match between the two winners," Tew said, adding that it would also boost the chances of including teams like Argentina.

The IRB still has to make a final decision on whether to approve the inter-hemisphere world series concept, which would come into play from 2012.