ozbash
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It's finally official - Hong Kong will host a fourth Bledisloe Cup clash between the All Blacks and Australia on November 1, a matchup that is not only historic but which puts the New Zealanders firmly in the box seat to retain the trans-Tasman trophy.
Today's official confirmation from the NZRU that agreement had been reached to play the match at Hong Kong Stadium and that it would be part of a four-match Bledisloe series for 2008 is significant on a number of fronts, but two in particular.
It will mark the first time a Bledisloe Cup test has been taken out of New Zealand or Australia, with the match expected to net the two unions a multi-million dollar payday.
But the addition of the fourth contest for the Cup also hands Graham Henry's All Blacks a massive advantage as they look to hold on to the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy.
For Robbie Deans' Wallabies to wrest the giant trophy off the All Blacks (they haven't held the Cup since 2002) they will now have to win three of the four matchups against the New Zealanders this year. The two sides will also meet three times during the Tri-Nations.
The Australians may have rated themselves half a chance to steal two out of three against Henry's men during the Tri-Nations (particularly with two of those contests on Australian soil) but may now find the three-from-four challenge an impossible hurdle.
Could it be that, after years of trying, Steve Tew has finally managed to put one over John O'Neill? Or is that just the commercial return on staging a fourth Bledisloe in Hong Kong outweighed any negative aspects for the Aussies as far as regaining the trophy goes?
Certainly key officials from the two countries were celebrating the official unveiling of the fixture a match that has been fairly common knowledge for months now.
"We are excited to accept Hong Kong's invitation to stage the first rugby international in Asia to feature two of the world's top teams," said NZRU chief executive Steve Tew.
"The match will make history and help promote rugby in a part of the world where it is developing quickly. We know both the All Blacks and the Wallabies have many fans in Asia and it is fantastic to be able to bring the game to them and to local rugby enthusiasts."
The Hong Kong fixture will also be the first time the two teams have played each other at a neutral venue, outside of at Rugby World Cup.
"Australia and New Zealand are great sporting rivals and the Bledisloe Cup is always fiercely contested," said ARU chief executive John O'Neill. "November's match will be no different. It promises to be a full-blooded encounter between two of the sport's heavyweights. This is not an exhibition game."
The Hong Kong Rugby Union will jump all over the prized match, running youth and club tournaments in the week leading up to the match. Discussions are also taking place regarding a curtain-raiser between Hong Kong and China.
"With millions watching on television around the world this is rugby at its best and a real showcase for Hong Kong," said HKRFU executive director Allan Payne.
"The concept of the match has attracted a lot of interest since it was first mentioned last year," added Payne. "It is our aim to host events of this calibre on an annual basis."
The match will be played on Saturday, November 1, kicking off at 4.30pm Hong Kong time (9.30pm NZ time).
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4424055a10.html
Today's official confirmation from the NZRU that agreement had been reached to play the match at Hong Kong Stadium and that it would be part of a four-match Bledisloe series for 2008 is significant on a number of fronts, but two in particular.
It will mark the first time a Bledisloe Cup test has been taken out of New Zealand or Australia, with the match expected to net the two unions a multi-million dollar payday.
But the addition of the fourth contest for the Cup also hands Graham Henry's All Blacks a massive advantage as they look to hold on to the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy.
For Robbie Deans' Wallabies to wrest the giant trophy off the All Blacks (they haven't held the Cup since 2002) they will now have to win three of the four matchups against the New Zealanders this year. The two sides will also meet three times during the Tri-Nations.
The Australians may have rated themselves half a chance to steal two out of three against Henry's men during the Tri-Nations (particularly with two of those contests on Australian soil) but may now find the three-from-four challenge an impossible hurdle.
Could it be that, after years of trying, Steve Tew has finally managed to put one over John O'Neill? Or is that just the commercial return on staging a fourth Bledisloe in Hong Kong outweighed any negative aspects for the Aussies as far as regaining the trophy goes?
Certainly key officials from the two countries were celebrating the official unveiling of the fixture a match that has been fairly common knowledge for months now.
"We are excited to accept Hong Kong's invitation to stage the first rugby international in Asia to feature two of the world's top teams," said NZRU chief executive Steve Tew.
"The match will make history and help promote rugby in a part of the world where it is developing quickly. We know both the All Blacks and the Wallabies have many fans in Asia and it is fantastic to be able to bring the game to them and to local rugby enthusiasts."
The Hong Kong fixture will also be the first time the two teams have played each other at a neutral venue, outside of at Rugby World Cup.
"Australia and New Zealand are great sporting rivals and the Bledisloe Cup is always fiercely contested," said ARU chief executive John O'Neill. "November's match will be no different. It promises to be a full-blooded encounter between two of the sport's heavyweights. This is not an exhibition game."
The Hong Kong Rugby Union will jump all over the prized match, running youth and club tournaments in the week leading up to the match. Discussions are also taking place regarding a curtain-raiser between Hong Kong and China.
"With millions watching on television around the world this is rugby at its best and a real showcase for Hong Kong," said HKRFU executive director Allan Payne.
"The concept of the match has attracted a lot of interest since it was first mentioned last year," added Payne. "It is our aim to host events of this calibre on an annual basis."
The match will be played on Saturday, November 1, kicking off at 4.30pm Hong Kong time (9.30pm NZ time).
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4424055a10.html
