Bledisloe Cup Trials: New Zealand Rugby confirms new start dates and times for All Blacks v Wallabies

The dates for the two Bledisloe Cup events in New Zealand have been confirmed by New Zealand Rugby, with the All Blacks playing the Wallabies at Wellington’s Sky Stadium on Sunday, October 11 and a week later at Eden Park in Auckland ( Sunday, October 18). ).

“We are delighted to set the dates and venues for the two home games against Australia and we look forward to seeing the Bledisloe Cup at stake next month,” NZR CEO Mark Robinson said in a statement.

Robinson said NZR was grateful to the New Zealand government for easing isolation restrictions to allow the Wallabies to enter the country and prepare for test matches, and also thanked Rugby Australia for their support.

Under new government guidelines, the Australian team will be able to fully train as a team four days after arriving in the country, depending on all team members returning a negative Covid-19 test on the third day.

“We recognize that this has been a complex and challenging puzzle to solve and we are grateful that both rugby organizations, together with our Government, have come together to bring these matches to cross the line,” said Robinson.

“We are also pleased that the All Blacks team and management are now confident and can plan accordingly, and we wish them all the best for the Bledisloe Cup campaign.”

NZR also confirmed that the matches will start at 3.30pm on both Sundays.

“Our fans, both here in New Zealand and around the world, have long been waiting for the resumption of international rugby and we are excited to finally set the details on the schedule,” said Robinson.

Robinson said the confirmation of the Bledisloe Cup dates meant there would be a change to the Miter Cup 10 schedule for both Bledisloe Cup weekends, and NZR would be working with the provincial unions regarding these changes.

Ticket release dates for the two Bledisloe tests have yet to be confirmed and will depend on updates to the government’s Covid-19 alert levels.

The All Blacks have held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003. The last two matches against Australia in last year’s Bledisloe Cup matches saw the Wallabies win 47-26 in Perth and the All Blacks won the second leg 36-0 in Auckland.