“New Zealand and Australia share a special and unique bond built on sporting rivalries, friendship and those men and women who have served our countries in global conflicts, some making the ultimate sacrifice in doing so,” New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster said.
“Playing the Bledisloe Cup on Anzac Day creates a unique transtasman sporting occasion that honours our countries’ shared history and cultures, while bringing people together through rugby.”
Reported by the Herald in April, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh has been the chief promoter of establishing the test, first campaigning for it in 2024.
“The 123-year history of Australia and New Zealand rugby is renowned and revered across the globe and the first ever staging of an Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup test will, we believe, create a new transtasman sporting tradition that will bring our nations together and reinforce our shared values,” Waugh said.
“We are grateful to our friends at New Zealand Rugby for this partnership and, along with the Queensland Government, we look forward to creating history together.”
The Herald reported in May that while New Zealand Rugby wanted reciprocity so as not to be locked into an agreement where the Wallabies have two home Bledisloe fixtures to the All Blacks’ one, the organisation couldn’t mount a viable commercial case to do so.
The Bledisloe Cup will remain a two-match series in 2028 and 2030 due to the Nations Championship.
It remains to be seen how the establishment of an Anzac Day test will impact Super Rugby Pacific, with the 2027 format to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
“We’ve worked with the All Blacks who see value in an early test match in Rugby World Cup and Men’s Lions Tour years,” Lancaster said.
“We know the team will embrace the challenge of two matches in Australia and look forward to them playing in front of the thousands of New Zealanders who now call it home, and the many we know will head across the Tasman for the match.”
All Blacks v Wallabies Anzac Day tests
Sunday, 25 April 2027. Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
Wednesday, 25 April 2029. Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
Friday, 25 April 2031. Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.