HONG KONG – Hong Kong will host an international rugby union match between New Zealand and Australia in November.
The game will be their fourth encounter in 2008 with the other three taking place in the Tri-Nations rugby series.
Australian Rugby Union chief John O’Neill said: “It is in our interests to grow the game in Asia – the rewards are extremely significant.
“There’s no reason why an event like this could not be held in other places within Asia – Tokyo is a possibility.”
The Bledisloe Cup clash on November 1 – which will kick off at 1630 local time – will be the first time the two great rivals have met in a Test outside New Zealand or Australia, except in a Rugby World Cup.
The All Blacks will head to Britain after the game for Tests with Scotland, Ireland and Wales, while the Wallabies play England at Twickenham on November 15.
The Bledisloe Cup was first awarded to the winning team in matches between the two antipodean rivals in 1932. The All Blacks have held it since 2003.
