- Title: JAPAN: RUGBY - Australia and New Zealand ready for Bledisloe Rugby Cup in Tokyo
- Date: 1st July 2009
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JUNE 30, 2009) (REUTERS) AUSTRALIA RUGBY UNION DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE MATT CARROLL AM AND NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER STEVE TEW WALKING ONTO A STAGE AND SITTING DOWN BLEDISLOE CUP TOKYO 2009 TROPHY ON STAGE BLEDISLOE CUP TOKYO 2009 SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) MATT CARROLL AM, AUSTRALIA RUGBY UNION DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SAYING: "The Bledisloe Cup is the crown jewel of Southern hemisphere rugby and it embodies the history, the pride, the passion of two great rugby nations Australia and New Zealand. And on the 31st of October, those two nations will clash here in one of the great capitals of the world Tokyo." CARROLL AND TEW SITTING DOWN (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEVE TEW, NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SAYING: "We certainly see New Zealand as part of Asia. We see Asia as an important part of the future of rugby in this part of the world. We have no doubt that this match will not be an isolated event in this part of an overall plan. We look forward to one day coming to Japan and playing Super Rugby here and who knows, we might be back in 2015 or 19 for the Rugby World Cup." CARROLL AND TEW SITTING DOWN AND REPORTERS LISTENING AUSTRALIA'S WALLABIES FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) MATT CARROLL, AUSTRALIA RUGBY UNION DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SAYING: "There are always great matches and this is tough as all the previous other encounters. The fact that is here in Tokyo, all the Australian fans who live in Japan and in the rest of Asia can all make their way to Tokyo. So we hope for a big contingent of gold at the national stadium." NEW ZEALAND'S ALL BLACKS FLAG 11 (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEVE TEW, NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SAYING: "Well it's the Bledisloe Cup test match, but they are always very fiercely fought. Players look out, look forward to playing in these matches. I know they'll be excited about coming to Tokyo. But ultimately it'll be an Australian-New Zealand match and be very fierce and very hardly contested. We think that it'll be very helpful to have as many All Blacks fans in the stadium as possible." CAMERA CREW GATHERING IN FRONT OF THE STAGE CARROLL AND TEW HOLDING THE BLEDISLOE CUP TOKYO 2009 TROPHY CARROLL AND TEW RAISING THE CUP AND PUTTING IT DOWN
- Embargoed: 16th July 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAE34WCOMKZ0BZCSAUHV2PVMZRA
- Story Text: Australia's Wallabies and New Zealand's All Blacks said on Tuesday (June 30) both teams are ready to clash at this year's fourth Bledisloe Cup match held in Tokyo, Japan.
"The Bledisloe Cup is the crown jewel of Southern hemisphere rugby and it embodies the history, the pride, the passion of two great rugby nations Australia and New Zealand," Matt Carroll, Australia Rugby Union Deputy Chief Executive, told a news conference held in Tokyo.
"On the 31st of October, those two nations will clash here in one of the great capitals of the world Tokyo. Last year was Hong Kong, this year another another great Asian city Tokyo," he added.
Tokyo was selected as the host city for this year's fourth Bledisloe Cup and the match would go ahead at Tokyo's national stadium on Oct. 31, a week before the Australian and New Zealand teams kick off their annual end-of-season European tours.
Australia and New Zealand are already scheduled to play three Bledisloe Cup matches as part of this year's Tri-Nations but have added an extra game to raise revenue.
The United States and Britain had also offered to host the match but Australian and New Zealand officials had previously indicated that Asia was their preferred choice after they played in Hong Kong last year.
By hosting the Bledisloe Cup, Japan could become the base for a new team in an expanded Super 14 competition.
"We certainly see New Zealand as part of Asia. We see Asia as an important part of the future of rugby in this part of the world. We have no doubt that this match will not be an isolated event in this part of an overall plan," Steve Tew, New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Officer, told the news conference.
"We look forward to one day coming to Japan and playing Super Rugby here and who knows, we might be back in 2015 or 19 for the Rugby World Cup," he added.
Japan is also bidding for the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups after missing out on the 2011 tournament.
Rugby's Union's Bledisloe Cup, named after the former Governor-General of New Zealand, is a series of rugby matches held between the two top global teams - the Wallabies and the All Blacks - and has become one of the most watched rugby games in the world.
Australia's Carroll says this year's match in Tokyo will be an interesting clash between the two rivals and Wallabies fan participation is a must.
"There are always great matches and this is tough as all the previous other encounters. The fact that is here in Tokyo, all the Australian fans who live in Japan and in the rest of Asia can all make their way to Tokyo. So we hope for a big contingent of gold at the national stadium."
Tew fights back saying the All Blacks are ready to face the Wallabies.
"Well it's the Bledisloe Cup test match, but they are always very fiercely fought. Players look out, look forward to playing in these matches. I know they'll be excited about coming to Tokyo. But ultimately it'll be an Australian New Zealand match and be very fierce and very hardly contested. We think that it'll be very helpful to have as many All Blacks fans in the stadium as possible."
The Bledisloe Cup trophy was first awarded to the winning team in 1932. The All Blacks have held it since 2003. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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