NZR announces All-Blacks home tests
THE Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship 2023 schedule will see the All Blacks play South Africa at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland on Saturday July 15. The Bledisloe Cup returns to Dunedin for the first time since 2017, in a rare afternoon home Test match (2.35PM kick off) for the All Blacks at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 5.
All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said:“The Rugby Championship is an exciting, but tough draw.”
“Playing the Argentinians in Argentina is an exciting challenge after not being there since 2019. With the challenges of stadium availability in Australasia, we are delighted to play this huge South African Test at Mt Smart.
We believe it’s key for the connection with our fans to have this massive game in our backyard and can’t wait.
“The Dunedin Test is also equally important for us because it’s our last chance to play in front of our fans before we head off for an exciting Rugby World Cup.”
The two home Tests will be part of a 2023 schedule which will see the All Blacks play five Tests in the build up to the Rugby World Cup in France in September.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Head of Professional Rugby and Performance Chris Lendrum said it was important to the All Blacks to be able to play in Aotearoa in a Rugby World Cup year.
“Although there is a shortened Rugby Championship schedule, there will no doubt be an edge to the Test matches played this year.
The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup remain vitally important to New Zealand Rugby, I know Foz (Foster) and the team are looking forward to the season kicking off as they continue to build ahead of the Rugby World Cup in September.”
The All Blacks Test matches will be broadcast exclusive to Sky, live and on demand. Presale and public sale tickets to the All Blacks Test Matches will go on sale in early May, with exact dates to be confirmed. The Black Ferns schedule will also be announced in due course.
The Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship vs Argentina, Saturday July 8, Estadio Malvinas Argentina, MENDOZA vs South Africa, Saturday July 15, 7.05PM, Mt Smart Stadium, AUCKLAND vs Australia, 29 July, location and time TBC (Bledisloe Cup match one)
Bledisloe Cup (match two) vs Australia, Saturday August 5, 2.35PM, Forsyth Barr Stadium, DUNEDIN
Test Match
vs South Africa, Friday August 25, 7.30PM, Twicken
About the Bledisloe Cup
Lord Bledisloe, Governor General of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935, bequeathed a trophy to the New Zealand Rugby Union with his name on it for perpetual competition between the All Blacks and Wallabies.
The two countries have been playing for the Bledisloe Cup since 1931 and it is the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy in rugby union.
The All Blacks are current holders of the Bledisloe Cup. — allblacks.com