9 Sep 2008

All Blacks Tests in all main centres next year

4:09 pm on 9 September 2008

The All Blacks will play Test rugby matches in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin next year.

They will start their season in June with two Tests against France at Carisbrook and in Wellington and then Italy in Christchurch.

In the Tri-Nations in July, the All Blacks will play Australia at Eden Park, South Africa in Hamilton and Australia in Wellington.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew says it was a juggling act to allocate the Tests, with Eden Park and AMI Stadium in Christchurch undergoing reconstruction ahead of the 2011 World Cup tournament.