Bledisloe Cup slashed to TWO Tests per year

Going forward, New Zealand and Australia will play each other only TWICE a year in the Bledisloe Cup, as opposed to the current three occasions.

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Since 2006, the All Blacks and Wallabies have done battle three times every year, save for Rugby World Cup years when it gets reduced to two.

In 2020, they even played each other on four occasions.

Third Bledisloe Cup Test dropped

But New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia have now mutually agreed to drop the third Test, with the latter’s boss confirming the Wallabies will now explore other options.

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“It was the end of a 15-year cycle, so we’ve got to look ahead at our objectives and what is the pathway ahead for us,” Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos said.

“We need to manage and prioritise how we’re going to go to the World Cup and then we have a Lions year in 2025, which is also another consideration.

“We’ve played each a huge amount over the years and we haven’t been successful – it’s not because of that we’re not wanting to look at it – but we feel for a period it’ll be good to have a break and look at other opportunities against other countries.”

Australia last won the Bledisloe Cup in 2002.

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