Wallabies vs. All Blacks to Debut Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test in 2027

The Wallabies and All Blacks are set to play on Anzac Day for the first time, with Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby confirming that the Bledisloe Cup Test schedule will undergo a shake-up. Calls for the much-hyped game to be played on a day dominated by NRL and AFL traditional fixtures have ramped up this year, as a Test against the two bitter rivals on Anzac Day has been a long-term vision for Rugby Australia. On Sunday, their dreams were realised with both NZR and RA announcing that Brisbane's Lang Park had secured hosting rights for the 2027, 2029 and 2031 instalments, with next year marking the first Anzac Day Bledisloe Test in the 123-year history between the teams. More significantly, the added Test means that the Bledisloe Cup will go back to a three-game series for the first time since 2021, and produce a reported $10 million to be split between the unions. An extra Bledisloe Cup Test would favour the Wallabies, who have not held the trophy since 2002 and have been unable to win both Tests since it became a two-game duel in 2022. Whether Super Rugby Pacific pauses and how it will compete with the NRL and AFL games will be a point of contention. But, RA chief executive Phil Waugh believes the Test will attract millions of viewers across the two countries. "This is an historic day for Australian, New Zealand and international rugby," he said. "The first ever staging of an Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test will, we believe, create a new trans-Tasman sporting tradition that will bring our nations together and reinforce our shared values." NZR's chief executive Steve Lancaster said Brisbane had long been seen as "a home away from home" for the Kiwis. "We see this as a huge opportunity to work in partnership with Rugby Australia to grow the game in a key market," he said. "The Anzac Day Bledisloe Test adds another key moment during the Super Rugby Pacific season as the early rounds will have the added element of selection intrigue ahead of this match." The 2027 Test will kick off in the early afternoon time slot, with additional trans-Tasman rugby fixtures and venues to be added in due course. According to the Australian War Memorial, ten members of the Wallabies and 13 All Blacks made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I. Troops from Australia and New Zealand organised rugby games throughout WWI, including a match on the island of Lemnos, 100 kilometres from the Gallipoli Peninsula, on October 23, 1915.

The historic scheduling change aims to leverage the significance of Anzac Day, commemorating the sacrifices of Australian and New Zealand servicemen, to boost the rugby rivalry's profile.