Eden Park will host first Bledisloe Cup test with Wallabies granted travel exemption for New Zealand trip

Concern that New Zealand’s closure of its trans-Tasman travel bubble would impact the Wallabies travelling from Australia for the first Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland next week have been allayed with Rugby Australia granted a special exemption for its team to enter the country.

With the New Zealand Government having last Friday suspended travel between the two countries for at least eight weeks due to the escalating COVID-19 situation in NSW, the Wallabies have been given an economic exemption to enter the country to face the All Blacks at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday 7th August.

The New Zealand Government is allowing exemptions to the travel ban on a case-by-case basis for people not normally resident in the country to travel to the country from Australia within the return window for events which have “significant economic impacts”.

With the match reportedly worth up to $20 million to the New Zealand economy, the Wallabies have been granted an exemption by the acting Minister for COVID-19 Response, Ayesha Verrall, on this basis.

Explaining the decision, New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Grant Robertson stated “this is important economically.

“A Test match is estimated to be worth between $17 to $20 million in spending for host regions, while the broadcast rights provide much needed income for the sport, which positively effects all levels of the game.

“Test rugby between the All Blacks and the Wallabies is keenly anticipated by New Zealanders, and I welcome the decision to allow the Australian team to travel given the game was less than two weeks away when trans-Tasman travel was suspended.

“The Wallabies have been operating in their own bubble for some time and will travel from their base in Queensland on a charter flight to Auckland on Friday morning. They will have to fulfil all normal obligations for travel including negative pre-departure tests within 72 hours of their travel.”

The Wallabies have been operating in their own bubble for some time, and will reportedly travel from their base in Queensland on a charter flight to Auckland on Friday morning.

The Wallabies will have to fulfil all normal obligations for travel including negative pre-departure tests within 72 hours of their travel.

The Wallabies have been operating in their own bubble for some time, and will reportedly travel from their base in Queensland on a charter flight to Auckland on Friday morning.

The Wallabies will have to fulfil all normal obligations for travel including negative pre-departure tests within 72 hours of their travel.

Decisions on the other two matches in the Bledisloe Cup series are dependent on ongoing discussions between New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia.

Perth’s Optus Stadium is due to host the second Test on 21st August and the series is scheduled to return to New Zealand for the third and final match at Wellington’s Sky Stadium on 28th August.