Four-Test Bledisloe Cup series

Rugby Australia is looking to add a fourth Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks to the international season this year.

Rugby Australia is hoping for a fourth Bledisloe Cup Test this season. Picture: Getty Images

Rugby Australia is looking to add a fourth Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks to the international season this year and potentially could revive the concept of an Anzac side if other Rugby Championship Tests fail to come off because of travel restrictions.

Although no details have been clarified, RA chief executive Rob Clarke said that the current three-Test series could be expanded, with two Tests to be played on both sides of the Tasman.

“We are in deep discussions with our Kiwi friends and they have the same challenges and are looking for content and so I am hopeful we can get to four, and possibly some trials games around that as well,” Clarke told The Weekend Australian.

“If we can’t get a full TRC (Rugby Championship) because of the travel restrictions then we are looking at other things that we could do, a Wallabies versus Anzac invitation team. Something to be creative.”

The last time an Anzac XV took the field was for the 12th and final match of the 1989 British and Irish Lions tour when three All Blacks – fullback Kieran Crowley, centre Frano Botica and prop Steve McDowall — joined 12 Australians at Ballymore. The Lions, who had won the deciding third Test 19-18 against Australia, ultimately prevailed 19-15.

Clarke admitted, meanwhile, there was merit in the suggestion by Alan Jones in his column in The Australian for South Africa (which hosts the Lions in 2021) to swap tours with Australia (which will host them in 2025). “South Africa are very keen to find a way to host the Lions. So I think those sorts of conversations would take place based on what (COVID-19) restrictions and circumstances unfold and we will watch that with interest.”

SANZAAR still is hopeful South Africa and Argentina will be sufficiently clear of COVID-19 to be able to play at least some Rugby Championship Tests. But although Australia might be forced to stage other “invitational” games if that is not possible, Clarke believes incoming RA chairman Hamish McLennan’s plan for a State of Origin series might be unworkable this year.

“I like his big ideas but it might be a challenge this year because of so many constraints around us,” he said. “But as a concept … look, it’s not a new concept … but I think it is one that we should look into for next year and beyond because it might have great merit.”

Clarke revealed that RA and Fox Sports had “a very constructive meeting” on Thursday at which rugby officials outlined their plans for a rebooted Super Rugby competition, scheduled to start on July 4, along with a projected schedule of Tests and other major matches.

He still was unable to state categorically whether RA was aiming at a five or six-team competition because of ongoing uncertainty over whether the federal government will give permission for the Sunwolves of Japan to enter the country.

And while he said the Western Force’s participation was looking very promising, he admitted one of the details still to be confirmed is whether the Force — or more correctly its billionaire owner Andrew Forrest — will meet its costs or whether they will be met in whole or in part by RA.

“Ultimately this competition will only take place if we have appropriate broadcast funding and to that end we had a very constructive meeting with Fox Sports yesterday where we outlined how we see this competition unfolding and the balance of the year, with the TRC and the Bledisloe Cups. and they have taken that away to digest and we will be meeting next week as a follow-up. I hope to have clarity on all of this by the end of next week because I am very conscious that July 4 is not far away.”

Longer-term, Clarke believes it is “unlikely” that a return to a 14-team Super Rugby competition will be able to take place next year, but that has created an opportunity for Australia to think outside the square for a replacement competition, or rather competitions. “There might well be a whole range of initiatives in a relatively aligned time zone that could enable us to construct all manner of competitions and not just one competition,’’ Clarke said.

He was unable to give reassurances that all existing Super Rugby teams would be in existence next year, but he did admit that the long-term broadcast deal, while “critically important”, did not close out other options.

“If the financial pot is finite, you can look at multiple ways of making up a solution to work within your means,” Clarke said.