Eden Park triple header confirmed

[titoelcolombiano]

My preference for the international season (cost efficiencies taken into account) in 2019 would have been:

Mid-Season:
Oceania Cup: NZ v Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium (DH)
Oceania Shield: Samoa v Fiji at Mt Smart Stadium (DH)
France v England at Perpignan

Week 1
World Cup 9's at WSS

Week 2
Oceania Cup: New Zealand v Australia at Eden Park (DH)
England Tour: Tonga v England at Eden Park (DH)
Oceania Shield: PNG v Samoa at Port Moresby
World Cup Qualifiers

Week 3
England Tour: New Zealand v England at Christchurch
Oceania Cup: Australia v Tonga at WSS
Oceania Shield: PNG v Fiji at Port Moresby
World Cup Qualifiers

Week 4
England Tour: Australia v Engalnd at Suncorp Stadium
World Cup Qualifiers

England tour (leaving other home nations' players at home for WCQ) and play all three teams in the top division of the Oceania Cup.

Double headers are used twice to draw massive crowds and give a big game atmosphere to the internationals and also assist with travel costs for the nations and fans involved.

Tonga playing where their fan base is to maximise crowds (Auckland & Western Sydney)

PNG get two home internationals in a meaningful tournament as a reward for their great WC support - these are played on consecutive weekends to save on travel expenses for broadcasters and the national bodies of the competing teams.

 

[Valheru]

Does anyone here think there is a chance the AUS/Tonga game goes on last?

If they believe the majority of the crowd will be Tongan fans then it makes sense and will also give the Kiwi fans a chance to leave to go watch the RWC final somewhere.

I suppose most Tongan fans in NZ are also NZ fans though?