Who gets to pick how many matches for the Bledisloe Cup?

Question

I used to remember it only being a 1 or 2 match affair? now its up to 4 games? its become very confusing and furthermore if its a draw at 2 each then what happens?

Answer 1

Its been 2 games up until 2005 when it was made a 3 match series but was onlt 2 matches last year because of the world cup. It is decided by sanza south africa new zealand australia rugby council. If it is a 2 all draw then the holders NZ will retain the cup.

Answer 2

Draw, the holder keeps the cup. But also as the ABs are the holders, why are there 2 games in Oz, and only in NZ

Answer 3

to the best of my knowlege if it it a draw the team who has the cup previous still keeps it.

Answer 4

In previous years it has been a 2-or-3 match series. We haven't ever had a 4-game or 1-game Bled Cup in the Tri-Nations days up till now.

It was originally planned to have 3 games this year as in the 2008 TriNations, there is three NZ-Aus games, three NZ-SAf games and three Aus-Saf games. But the NZRU and the ARU decided to tack on the Hong Kong game at the end of the year, and in an attempt to make it significant they decided to make another Bledisloe game.

If a Bledisloe series is tied, the team that won it the previous year gets to keep the silverware. So, Australia need to win both remaining games to win the Bledisloe as even one more win to the All Blacks will be enough to retain the title.

Answer 5

Thankyou Sir Kiwijoey,

I did not know myself and I am glad I now do.

P.S good question Ashar.

Answer 6

It's chopped and changed for ages. This year the BC has been extended to four test with the finnal in Hong Kong and next year it is planned to take the finnal to Tokyo, Japan.

Some will say it's about growing the game, but in reality it is all about the money. NZRFU is broke and have a to find the cash to plan a big party in 2011.

The Aussies are kean as kangaroos to push rugby into asia and reap the rewards - like they have done with soccer.

NZ sees a sniff of cash and blindly follows.

Drawing the serries means the cup remains with the holding nation.

Answer 7

It is something that is negotiated by the ARU & NZRU.