BLEDISLOE CUT-BACK

AUSTRALIA’S rivalry with the All Blacks will be scaled back to two Tests each year from three, officials said on Friday, as the Wallabies seek to play other countries.

The rugby powerhouses have contested a best-of-three transTasman series, the Bledisloe Cup, every year since 2006.

Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos said the decision would allow the Wallabies – who have not lifted the trophy since 2003 – to play other countries.

“We need to manage and prioritise how we’re going to go to the (2023) World Cup and then we have a (British and Irish) Lions year in 2025, which is also another consideration,” he said. “We’ve played each other a huge amount over the years and we haven’t been successful – it’s not because of that we’re not wanting to look at it. But we feel for a period it’ll be good to have a break and look at other opportunities.”

The decision comes at a time when Fiji has joined a new-look 12team Super Rugby Pacific competition and with Australia keen on building its rivalry with Japan.

Marinos added that the decision to play only two Tests was a joint move between Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby, and said it would not be reviewed before the end of 2025.