News

Tokyo in talks for Bledisloe

December 05 2008

Tokyo is the Australia Rugby Union's (ARU) preference for the next offshore Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand, according to Chief Executive John O'Neill.

The ARU and the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) are negotiating to stage another Bledisloe Cup Test overseas after the success of last month's match in Hong Kong.

Reports have London's Twickenham stadium and Denver's Mile High stadium in Colorado as potential venues, but O'Neill made little secret of his choice.

"Negotiations are continuing with the Japanese Rugby Union and its marketing arm, it's progressing but we haven't reached any point of finality yet," O'Neill told reporters at the announcement of an expanded 2009 Adelaide IRB Sevens.

"It would be fair to say our preference is Tokyo one, Twickenham two, Denver three."

O'Neill said both the ARU and the NZRU wanted a greater foothold for rugby in Asia.

"Ourselves and New Zealand do have strategic ambitions in Asia," he said.

"The Bledisloe in Hong Kong this year on November 1 was very successful and we'd like to continue our strategy of trying to expand rugby's footprint in that incredibly important market."

New Zealand staged a second-half fightback to down Australia 19-14 in the historic first Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong on November 1.

Japan was the unsuccessful bidder behind New Zealand to host the 2011 World Cup.