Lions on prowl as Kiwis begin to take flight

New Zealand Rugby League is looking at the feasibility of a British Lions tour to New Zealand next year, as it capitalises on last weekend’s successful test against Australia.

The organisation is also exploring venues for June’s much-anticipated rematch against Tonga.

While the crowd of around 13,000 was small for the Kiwis’ 26-24 win over the Kangaroos last weekend, it did revive interest in the team, as the NZRL tries to bring the international side back from the abyss of last year’s disastrous World Cup.

There was a six-year gap between last Saturday’s test against the Kangaroos and the previous time they’d squared off in Auckland, but it’s unlikely there will ever be such a long gap again.

‘‘This is the start of a new story and we wrote a chapter in that last Saturday,’’ NZRL CEO Greg Peters said.

‘‘We’re bringing more games to New Zealand, we recognise it takes a bit of time to win back the hearts and minds of fans.

‘‘But that was the start on Saturday, we want to bring more games to New Zealand, and have the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns playing in front of their fans and friends and family on regular occasions.

‘‘That’s going to continue as early as next June when we’re playing Tonga at a yet-to-be announced venue.’’

Tonga’s Andrew Fifita said last week that they could have sold out Eden Park for a test against the world champion Australian Kangaroos.

The sold out signs could also need dusting down for a test between the Kiwis and Tonga at Eden Park.

‘‘We’re looking at a number of venues,’’ Peters said.

‘‘We’ll start that process shortly, we don’t have a fixed view at the moment other than we want to look at the commercials around it, and we’ll have a much longer lead-in time than we had for this particular test.

‘‘We’ll consider anything. We’re not closed on it at all at the moment.

‘‘We’re exploring the opportunities and seeing where we can get the best outcome for the game.’’

It was signalled earlier this year that the British Lions would come Down Under, but it’s understood issues over TV contracts may mean they come just to New Zealand.

However, Peters says while they want to host the Lions, for what could be a series or a one-off test, he has to make sure it’s financially viable.

‘‘We’ve still got a lot more work to do on that, but we need to work out the commercial equation for that to make it work for New Zealand,’’ he said.

‘‘But we’re in the process of developing that concept.

‘‘We’ve got the intent to do it, we’ve got to make sure it can wash its face and work commercially for us.’’

Peters says he’s also looking to arrange more tests for the Kiwi Ferns.

‘‘We’re building now to the 2021 World Cup in the UK and we need the Kiwi Ferns to be playing more regularly, and developing a better programme for the women’s game in New Zealand.

‘‘That’s high on the agenda. Whenever the Kiwis play, we’d like the Kiwi Ferns to playing matches in and around that.’’