Bledisloe heads for Tokyo
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:01
Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill has confirmed that negotiations are underway for the All Blacks and Wallabies to clash in Tokyo late next year.
This follows the historic November 1 Bledisloe Cup clash in Hong Kong, which will net the New Zealand Rugby Union and the ARU a minimum of $2 million each. The Hong Kong clash was also the first time the Bledisloe cup was played for outside of Australasia.
O'Neill says negotiations are well underway between the ARU, NZRU, the Japanese Rugby Union and Japanese marketing company Dentsu.
"It is a continuation and re-enforcement of our strategic ambitions in Asia," O'Neill told reporters in Australia.
"If you have Hong Kong this year [and] Tokyo next year, it is a pretty significant statement we are serious about Asia.
"Between New Zealand and ourselves, we have unambiguously said our preference next year is to continue to grow our presence in Asia through Tokyo.
"We have dialogue with [the JRFU and Dentsu] about an ability to underwrite a Bledisloe in Tokyo. I believe it would be a big success."
The All Blacks have not played in Japan since 2000, when they played a promotional warm-up match on their way to Europe.
If the Bledisloe Cup clash does go ahead in Tokyo next year, the NZRU could look to tempt one of the Six Nations sides to Denver for a test on their season-ending tour.
The move to play tests in new markets should prove to be a financial goldmine for the NZRU and ARU, a welcomed extra source of income as the world's financial situation bites all sectors of industry.
