An extremely rare afternoon rugby test is reportedly being considered for Dunedin next year.
It would be the first test played in the city with an afternoon kick-off since the transtasman rivals met at Carisbrook 21 years ago, when the Wallabies won 23-15.
The New Zealand Herald first reported three months ago that Dunedin was in line to host a Bledisloe Cup clash in 2023.
It is an unusual year as not only is it a Rugby World Cup year, meaning the All Blacks have a reduced domestic schedule, but there are also complications around stadium availability due to the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The Otago Daily Times has been told the Bledisloe Cup test at Forsyth Barr Stadium could be on Saturday, August 5, four days after the stadium hosts its final game in the women’s football tournament.
Further, a source told the paper the rugby test would have an afternoon kick-off.
There are two Women’s World Cup knockout games the same day.
They start at 5pm (Auckland) and 8pm (Wellington), so Sky Television would understandably prefer not to have a clash with the rugby.
An afternoon kick-off could be a boost for Dunedin hospitality venues, and it might even see a return to the days of the wildly popular "tent village", though it would have to be in the Logan Park area and not South
Dunedin.
A Sanzaar spokesman told the ODT the organisation was awaiting confirmation of venues from South Africa and Argentina, the other two nations in the Rugby Championship.
"We anticipate a draw announcement in the new year."
Dunedin Venues chief executive Terry Davies was unable to confirm the Bledisloe Cup speculation when contacted yesterday.
"We’re still talking to New Zealand Rugby," Davies said.
"I’m hoping there will be something any time soon, but there’s nothing to report at this stage."
Davies did not wish to comment on the possibility of a Dunedin test having an afternoon kick-off.
"I can’t speculate. That would be New Zealand Rugby’s decision.
"All we’re doing is talking to them to negotiate the best we can, and if we can get a match.
"We’ll keep an open mind and we’ll see what they decide."
The All Blacks previously played the Wallabies at Forsyth Barr Stadium in 2017 and 2013.
Dunedin was not awarded a test in the past two World Cup years, 2019 and 2015, so the prospect of adding a Bledisloe Cup test to the Dunedin calendar is significant.
"It’s a big year, you know," Davies said.
"We’ve got three concerts in the first half of the year. And the Fifa World Cup is massive, just a beast.
"You’re going to see the momentum build for that tournament and it will be a big machine. It will be brilliant."
