Dunedin joins battle

The nationwide race to host an additional Bledisloe Cup game, or a mouthwatering All Blacks trial, is heating up with Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins throwing his weight behind Forsyth Barr Stadium’s push to land the fixtures.

‘‘Forsyth Barr Stadium is hands down the best rugby venue in the country, so why wouldn’t you want to bring the Bledisloe Cup back here?’’ Hawkins told Stuff yesterday.

‘‘I’ve got great memories of my parents taking me to watch the All Blacks beat Australia as a kid, and I can’t wait to be able to share that experience with my own wee lad.

‘‘As for the North v South tradition, bring it back, but why stop there?

‘‘If ever there was a year to bring back the Probables v Possibles trial match then surely this is it.’’

A second Bledisloe Cup test on New Zealand soil this has become a distinct possibility this after reports from Australia indicated that a four-game series was on the cards, with New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia desperate to maxmise revenue after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Originally, New Zealand was scheduled to host just one Bledisloe Cup fixture this year, at Sky Stadium in Wellington on August 15, but Covid-19 threw the international fixture list out the window.

The 10-week Super Rugby Aotearoa competition will begin this weekend and will run until August 16, with a North v South game likely to occur before any test rugby is played.

Forsyth Barr Stadium boss Terry Davies confirmed on Monday that Dunedin’s iconic stadium would definitely be in the running for any event New Zealand Rugby wanted to stage.

‘‘We’ll put our hand up for anything,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re in the bidding business and the