Melbourne to host opening Bledisloe Cup Test with Sydney to miss out on All Blacks battle
One of Sydney’s marquee stadiums is being redeveloped in 2020, meaning one of the world rugby’s premier match-ups is heading south. Can that change the Wallabies’ fortunes?
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Marvel Stadium will host the opening Bledisloe Cup Test next year as the battle for trans-Tasman rugby supremacy returns to Melbourne for the first time in 13 years.
Sydney misses out on a Bledisloe Test in 2020 as ANZ Stadium is being redeveloped, with Melbourne and Brisbane getting the first and third matches of the three-match series on August 8 and October 17.
It’s the first time in the 117-year trans-Tasman battle Australia has hosted two home Bledisloe Cup matches and neither has been played in Sydney.
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The fixture will be a double-header with the Wallaroos also taking on the Black Ferns in their first ever Test match in Melbourne.
The Wallabies, under new coach Dave Rennie, will be trying to break the All Blacks’ 17-year hold on the famous trophy.
Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle said it represented a new era for the national team, which had a disappointing recent quarter-final World Cup exit.
The Kiwis will also have new coach, with long-time mentor Steve Hansen stepping down.
“I think it’s a fresh start, I think that’s the excitement,” Castle said on Monday.
“We don’t quite know what any coach is going to bring and that creates the anticipation.
“The Australian public are going to want to get to know Dave Rennie and what he’s about and the style of rugby that he’s going to play so by the time we get to this Test match we will have seen a little bit of that.”
Australia will also play Ireland in a two-Test series, on July 4 at Suncorp Stadium and July 11 at the SCG.
Those matches will be the first internationals under Rennie.
Originally published as Melbourne to host opening Bledisloe Cup Test with Sydney to miss out on All Blacks battle