Changed Bledisloe Cup schedule will see Eden Park host two tests

A change in venues for the 2021 Bledisloe Cup series will see Auckland’s Eden Park host back-to-back All Blacks vs Wallabies Tests for the first time in the tournament’s near-90-year history.

Working around Coronavirus restrictions, the games will take place this Saturday (7th August) and next Saturday (14th August) with the final Test in Perth shifted a week to 28th August at Optus Stadium.

Originally slated for 21st August, the Perth Test’s new date results from the pause put on the travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand following the recent outbreak of COVID across the country.

Welcoming the two fixtures at the Auckland venue, Eden Park Chief Executive, Nick Sautner stated “we have worked closely with all parties and are pleased to have found the best solution for staging the second Bledisloe Cup test match in New Zealand amidst these changing and challenging circumstances.”

Staging these two events in close succession will maximise shared benefits for Auckland and New Zealand, says Sautner, who added “international Test matches at Eden Park generate significant economic benefits which ripple throughout the region. A single Bledisloe Cup test match creates employment for more than 3,500 event staff across cleaning, catering, security, traffic management, medical staff and more. The economic benefits of two, back-to-back tests cannot be understated.”

In a statement advising of the scheduling change, Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Andy Marinos advised “it’s never an easy decision to adjust a schedule and firstly, I want to thank the Western Australian Government for their support and understanding as we continued to overcome hurdles

“The recent trans-Tasman bubble closure, New Zealand health orders and State border closures and lockdowns, have forced us to make number of changes but we’re incredibly excited about the schedule ahead.

“It is good news for rugby fans in Western Australia with the Test set for Saturday 28th August.”

Marinos assured those with tickets for the original date at Optus Stadium that their tickets will be automatically transferred to the new date or that a full refund can be obtained.

With Eden Park having originally been scheduled to stage one Test, with the other to be held at Wellington’s Sky Stadium, Sautner went on to say “to our friends in Wellington, we call on you to make your way to Tāmaki Makaurau to experience the unmatched excitement of watching the All Blacks take on the Wallabies at Eden Park.

“The stage is being set for not one but two electric test matches.”

Images: The Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park (top) and All Blacks fans at the venue (below). Credit: PhotoSport NZ.