The All Blacks have been forced to abandon several stadiums for test matches against South Africa and Australia ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup to make way for women’s football.
Football has been given priority in booking stadiums with the FIFA Women’s World Cup being hosted in New Zealand and Australia in July and August , the months in which the Southern-Hemisphere-based Rugby Championship will be played.
The All Blacks have, hence, been elbowed out of Aukland’s Eden Park, which is considered the headquaters of New Zealand Rugby.
Instead, their Rugby Championship match against South Africa on July 15 will be played at the home of New Zealand Warriors rugby league club, Mt. Smart Satdium with their second Bledisloe Cup test against Australia being played on August 5 at Dunedin’s indoor stadium. Dunedin is set to host FIFA Women’s World Cup Group matches, which stage will be over before the rugby test is played.
