But Rapid Rugby head of rugby and former Wallaby Matt Hodgson said the competition would be better off for the extra year of preparation.
"What I promised myself and what we've all worked hard for is to get the product right,"Hodgson said.
"We don't want it to be a one year thing,we want it to be a long term project and success. This means you'll see Global Rapid Rugby around for the long term,which is exciting.
"And there is a lot of upside in what we can deliver in 2020 now,to make the greatest spectacle we can in the time frame we are now presented with."
Forrest was forced to call time on the concept late on Wednesday. Sources told theHerald the interests behind the Samoa- and Malaysia-based teams had not managed to finalise arrangements,but a Rapid Rugby spokesman disputed this.
And while the delay would be disappointing for the Western Force,Singapore and Hong Kong teams that were locked and loaded for 2019,as well as Fiji,the revised start date does give Hodgson and Forrest more time to get a Japanese team and a second Australia-based team up and running in an expanded eight- or 10-team format.