Oz, NZ eye 'greater foothold' in Asia
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:48
Tokyo is the Australian Rugby Union's preference for the next offshore Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand, ARU Chief Executive John O'Neill said Thursday.
The ARU and the New Zealand Rugby Union are negotiating to stage another Bledisloe Cup Test overseas after the success of last month's match in Hong Kong.
Reports have London's Twickenham stadium and Denver's Mile High stadium in Colorado as potential venues, but O'Neill on Thursday made little secret of his choice.
"Negotiations are continuing with the Japanese Rugby Union and its marketing arm, it's progressing, but we haven't reached any point of finality yet," O'Neill told reporters at the launch of the Adelaide leg of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series.
"It would be fair to say our preference is Tokyo one, Twickenham two, Denver three."
O'Neill said both the ARU and the NZRU wanted a greater foothold for rugby in Asia.
"Ourselves and New Zealand do have strategic ambitions in Asia," he said.
"The Bledisloe [Cup match] in Hong Kong this year on November 1 was very successful and we'd like to continue our strategy of trying to expand rugby's footprint in that incredibly important market."
New Zealand staged a second-half fightback to down Australia 19-14 in the historic first Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong on November 1.
Japan was the unsuccessful bidder behind New Zealand to host the 2011 World Cup.
AFP
* Where should they play Bledisloe Cup Tests?
