The Australian Rugby Union has been accused of killing off club rugby by establishing an Australasian Provincial Competition (APC) to start next year.

The ARU on Friday implemented the long-awaited third-tier model but not without provoking club anger, NSW Waratahs reservations and fears of a slight on battling Pacific Island nations.

An APC involving Australia's four Super 14 franchises, without their Wallabies, is nine months away from starting but is already dividing the code in the country.

Queensland, NSW, ACT Brumbies and Western Force will play off over five weeks in a home-and-away series, including a final.

Two invitational Japanese teams - likely to be Japan East and Japan West - are set to play matches in the last week of the competition as a trial to future involvement.

After 10 years of professionalism, the code finally has a competition which goes some of the way to bridging the gap between Super 14 and club rugby.