{"id":794754,"date":"2026-10-07T11:20:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T11:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/794754\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T11:20:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T11:20:13","slug":"nz-rugby-ceo-all-blacks-and-lions-want-to-maximise-revenue-but-a-test-in-australia-is-not-acceptable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/794754\/","title":{"rendered":"NZ Rugby CEO: All Blacks and Lions want to ‘maximise revenue’ but a Test in Australia is ‘not acceptable’"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Zealand<\/a> Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster says that Australia won\u2019t host one of the 2029 British and Irish Lions tour matches.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u2019s capacity surpassing all of the venues in New Zealand.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The inaugural Rugby\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

All Blacks won\u2019t turn into Harlem Globetrotters<\/p>\n

NZ Rugby\u2019s CEO discussed the 2029 British and Irish Lions tour<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look this year across the All Blacks<\/a> and the Black Ferns; they play 29 matches, and 20 of those matches are offshore. The All Blacks have played four home Tests<\/a> in New Zealand this year. They\u2019ll play the majority offshore. That\u2019s just a reality,\u201d the CEO said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, the need to take matches offshore where we can generate more revenue. As I said, 68,000 people in Baltimore; we don\u2019t 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\u2019s off the back of massive stadia that they\u2019re able to fill for those big games.<\/p>\n

All Blacks: Tana Umaga reveals the one statistic they \u2018looked at most\u2019 after Springboks series loss and want to change against Wallabies<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are having conversations with the Lions ahead of their tour here for the men\u2019s 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\u2019s just a part of the dynamic that we have to balance. But I don\u2019t think people should worry that we\u2019re going to turn the All Blacks into the Harlem Globetrotters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ex-Irish ref boss slams \u2018totally out of order\u2019 Michael Hooper and Sir Steve Hansen comments on Andrea Piardi<\/a><\/p>\n

Only three Tests and they will all be in New Zealand<\/p>\n

Asked if he could see a situation where a Test against the Lions is played in Australia, Lancaster was forthright.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it won\u2019t be happening in 2029. I can tell you that,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd again, I always say never say never in this game, but not in 2029.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a series where they will play three Tests. Those three Tests will be in New Zealand.<\/p>\n

\ufeff<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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\u2019re really clear with our responsibility to New Zealanders. I just don\u2019t think that\u2019s acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

He revealed that there have been discussions with the Lions about a fourth Test match but said that isn\u2019t a possibility for 2029 because of the congested rugby calendar.<\/p>\n

Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t play four Tests again,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe explored that with the Lions around what the length of that series could be, how many Tests we could play, but again, they\u2019ve got a window where they can secure players for those Tests and we\u2019ve also got other international fixtures that we have to play either side of that. So, it\u2019ll be a three-Test series, and they\u2019ll all be in New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0Matt Giteau: Why the 2015 World Cup defeat \u2018stung more\u2019 than losing to England<\/a><\/p>\n

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