South Island misses out on ABs in 2019

AS expected, the All Blacks will not play a test in the South Island next year as the international schedule is impacted by the World Cup.

New Zealand Rugby released its programme for the All

Blacks for next year, which shows Auckland is to host a Bledisloe Cup match — along with a Black Ferns test — and Wellington will host a match between the All Blacks and South Africa.

Westpac Stadium in Wellington will host the test between the All Blacks and South Africa on July 27 as part of a condensed Rugby Championship, while Auckland will host the Laurie O’Reilly Trophy and Bledisloe Cup in a return of the doubleheader test match rugby event at Eden Park on August 17.

The Wellington test match will effectively be a dress rehearsal of the All Blacks and South Africa’s muchanticipated opening pool match of Rugby World Cup in Japan in September. It will be the only chance the two teams get to size each other up ahead of the tournament.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said the double header was an ideal way to celebrate transtasman rugby, and to showcase both teams and the trophies for which they played.

Next year’s Eden Park double header will be the second of two double headers, with the first to be played in Western Australia’s 60,000seat Perth Stadium in Burswood on August 17.

Wellington Rugby acting chief executive Matt Evans said the union was excited to host such an important test match in such an important year.

There is no June test window next year, and no break in

Super Rugby.

The Otago Rugby Football Union was not expecting to host a test next year, but the loss of income would nevertheless come as a blow.