New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster says that Australia won’t host one of the 2029 British and Irish Lions tour matches.
A report in The Australian last month stated that the Melbourne Cricket Ground was being floated as a possible destination for one of the Test matches between the Lions and All Blacks, with the ground’s capacity surpassing all of the venues in New Zealand.
It added that plans are being hatched for the famous touring side to play France and Italy before taking on the All Blacks whilst a four-Test series was being considered.
The inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series consisted of four Tests between South Africa and New Zealand, with the finale taking place in Baltimore, United States. Lancaster has revealed that the Lions and New Zealand Rugby have discussed the possibility of a fourth Test in 2029 but have ultimately decided that all the games will take place in Aotearoa.
All Blacks won’t turn into Harlem Globetrotters
NZ Rugby’s CEO discussed the 2029 British and Irish Lions tour on DSPN with Martin Devlin and Jamie Wall, revealing that the touring team is concerned about the revenues that the tour in New Zealand can generate.
“I look this year across the All Blacks and the Black Ferns; they play 29 matches, and 20 of those matches are offshore. The All Blacks have played four home Tests in New Zealand this year. They’ll play the majority offshore. That’s just a reality,” the CEO said.
“So what we need to ensure, and what we want New Zealanders to know, is that we take our responsibility to this country really seriously. We want to ensure that Kiwis can continue to access All Blacks games, watch them in New Zealand, but we have to balance that with the international playing schedule, which is determined by World Rugby.
“Ultimately, the need to take matches offshore where we can generate more revenue. As I said, 68,000 people in Baltimore; we don’t have a venue of that size in New Zealand. You look at what Rugby Australia was able to generate out of their last Lions tour and that’s off the back of massive stadia that they’re able to fill for those big games.
“We are having conversations with the Lions ahead of their tour here for the men’s team in 2029. One of the things that they are talking about is how do we maximise revenue out of a tour of New Zealand when your stadium capacity is so limited compared to internationally, and matchday revenue is such a big part of it. So it’s just a part of the dynamic that we have to balance. But I don’t think people should worry that we’re going to turn the All Blacks into the Harlem Globetrotters.
“We will continue to play fixtures overseas. We will continue to look for opportunities to maximise revenue out of those, which is actually our responsibility to the game in New Zealand, but also to meet our responsibility to the game in New Zealand to ensure we have enough games in New Zealand and across New Zealand for people to be able to see.”
Only three Tests and they will all be in New Zealand
Asked if he could see a situation where a Test against the Lions is played in Australia, Lancaster was forthright.
“Well, it won’t be happening in 2029. I can tell you that,” he said. “And again, I always say never say never in this game, but not in 2029.
“We’ve got a series where they will play three Tests. Those three Tests will be in New Zealand.
“I know there was some reporting out of Australia that suggested one of those games might be taken over there. As I said, the Lions have been open with us about how we maximise revenue. We’re really clear with our responsibility to New Zealanders. I just don’t think that’s acceptable.”
He revealed that there have been discussions with the Lions about a fourth Test match but said that isn’t a possibility for 2029 because of the congested rugby calendar.
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“We can’t play four Tests again,” he added.
“We explored that with the Lions around what the length of that series could be, how many Tests we could play, but again, they’ve got a window where they can secure players for those Tests and we’ve also got other international fixtures that we have to play either side of that. So, it’ll be a three-Test series, and they’ll all be in New Zealand.”
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