Ridzal Saat will take up the new role, intended to oversee the development of rugby alongside the Asian Rugby Football Union, next month.

Asia has been identified as a "major potential growth area for the game", the IRB has said.

Saat currently works for the Football Association of Singapore, having taken up a number of senior positions.

He has also worked at the Singapore Rugby Union.

"This is an important appointment for the IRB and, in particular, for rugby in Asia," said IRB head of development and international relations, David Carrigy.

"Ridzal brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of sport in Asia and he has the right skill set to continue the good groundwork achieved in what is strategically a very important region for us."

Japan's hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2019 is seen as providing a platform for the sport to grow across Asia ©AFP/Getty Images



He added: "Rugby is growing rapidly in Asia and it still has a huge amount of potential for further development.

"With Rugby World Cup 2019 coming up in Japan and the Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo also on the horizon, the coming years will be extremely important as we look to manage and make the most of that continuing growth."

As a former rugby player, Saat represented Singapore at international level from 1993 to 2001.

Japan, which came bottom of its pool at the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand, is scheduled to host the 2019 edition from September 6 to October 20.