Newly-crowned Super Rugby Pacific champions Canterbury Crusaders are set to play Munster and the Bristol Bears on a European tour next February.

The Crusaders have not played in Europe since 2011 when they faced the Durban-based Sharks at Twickenham, according to the New Zealand franchise.

The Crusaders’ chief executive, Colin Mansbridge, suggested that the tour games could serve as a trial run for a potential future international club competition.

“New Zealand and Australian clubs have been working on the World Club Competition for years, so when an opportunity for Super teams to play Northern Hemisphere counterparts came up, it was just too good to pass up,” Mansbridge added.

On February 3, the New Zealand rugby team will take on Munster, the current United Rugby Championship champions, before facing Bristol Bears six days later.

The Crusaders’ tour games will be led by new head coach Rob Penney, who replaces Scott Robertson, who will lead the All Blacks in 2024.

Saturday’s 25-20 victory over the Waikato Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final earned the Christchurch-based team its seventh consecutive championship under Robertson.