Melbourne will be allowed to recruit up to 10 foreign players for their entry to the expanded Super 15 rugby competition in 2011.

The Australian Rugby Union on Monday announced significant foreign-player concessions for Melbourne to give the franchise every chance of being competitive in their debut season.

The ARU Foreign Player Policy allows a Super Rugby province to contract up to two overseas players: one marquee signing who has already qualified for another nation and a development player who could qualify for Australian selection under the IRB's three-year residency regulation.

If a province does not sign a marquee player it can contract two development players.

But the ARU board has eased the existing Foreign Player Policy for Melbourne only, granting them permission to sign up to 10 players to their 30-man roster.

It is hoped the concession also protects Australia's other four franchises - the NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, ACT Brumbies and Western Force.

The concession of eight additional foreign players will gradually be rolled back so that by 2015 Melbourne will have the same number of overseas players as the other four Australian teams.

"It is important to ensure Melbourne can recruit a team that is competitive from day one," ARU chief John O'Neill said.

"The concessions we have put in place provide Melbourne with every opportunity for immediate success, while also ensuring there is ongoing sustainability moving forward.

"There are exciting times ahead. The addition of another Australian team and a move to a conference-style format will increase significantly the number and appeal of Super rugby matches played within Australia."

"We will have 20 all-Australian local derbies each season, as opposed to the current six.

"We will be playing in five cities rather than four and we will have a side in Melbourne that could be showcasing world-class talent from overseas as well as home-grown stars."

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