Judo was last September confirmed as one of the 10 that must be included in every Commonwealth Games, starting with Durban in 2022.

The sport has also been included for the first time in the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, awarded earlier this month to the Bahamas.

The new MoU was signed here between Marius Vizer, President of the International Judo Federation (IJF), and Richard Kenney, head of the Commonwealth Judo Association (CJA), on the eve of the Paris Grand Slam. 

“It is a great honour and pleasure to sign this MoU to be part of the Commonwealth Sports Movement and is a chance to explore our sport at the Commonwealth Games and across the Commonwealth countries," said Vizer.

"I believe we can offer mutual benefits to the IJF and CJA and I look forward to a successful collaboration.”

Judo has appeared at three editions of the Commonwealth Games since making its debut at Auckland in 1990.

It was also held at Manchester in 2002 and Glasgow in 2014. 

It has not been included on the programme for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. 

England have dominated the competition and are top of the all-time medals table.

They have won a total of 42 medals, including 28 gold. 

A total of 18 countries have won medals but the hope is that his new MoU will help other nations develop. 

This year's Commonwealth Championships are due to take place in Port Elizabeth in South Africa from April 23 until 28.  

“Mr Vizer, all members of the judo family, I have been Executive President of the CJA for two years and in that time I have greatly admired the work of the IJF who I see as the leading international sports federation in the world,” said Kenney, a Scot. 

“With the technical expertise of the IJF and the support of the judo family we wish to promote judo right across the Commonwealth.”