Australian Test Matches 2012 onwards

[RedsHappy]

The welsh test in Melbourne is confirmed at etihad. there is some question as to whether it will be the 1st or 2nd test though.

My sources tell me that melbourne is in line to get a B&I Lions test as well. again, question over which match.

I'm surprised the bledisloe deals were so long dated. it provides such little flexibility to reward melbourne in particular. Perth will presumably always be the 'secondary' city that gets the south african games when not in brisbane. But melbourne surely should be getting more exposure to tri nations rugby.
A 5 year deal would have allowed melbourne to grow its rugby base via games against the welsh, french, irish etc and then, once support is well and truely there, give us tri nations at least. I'll say it again, the move to having games on the gold coast is great, but I am surprised Melbourne isn't getting more of a look at for the argentina games. don't forget in addition to the argentina match there is a scotland one off test on the gold coast.

From the BIL wikipedia entry:

2013
During June 2013 the British and Irish Lions will tour Australia. The tour will start in Hong Kong with a match against the Barbarians before moving on to Australia for the main tour featuring 6 provincial matches and 3 tests.
The provisional dates and venues for the three international tests are:
Saturday 22 June 2013, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday 29 June 2013, Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Saturday 6 July 2013, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
In June 2009 the British media reported that Argentina were lobbying for the 2013 British and Irish Lions Tour to Australia to incorporate a series of games in Argentina. The proposed format would be three provincial games in Argentina followed by two international tests, followed by three provincial games in Australia followed by three international tests.
Former Scotland and Lions fullback Andy Irvine was appointed as tour manager in 2010.

 

[Ruggo]

Well that is just stupid. Then why play in Newcastle or Gosford.

Hell we can flip that. Why play in Brisbane it is just a train ride from the GC. They only need to build a bigger stadium than Suncorp.

No it's not. Distribute the product across the country for access to a wider sample of the community.

 

[matty_k]

And not playing a game at the GC distributes the product across the country how?

 

[Jnor]

Gav, on behalf of all non-Victorians on G&GR I implore you to start planning now and get as many people in gold making as much fucking noise as possible to Etihad for that Lions test. I do not want to see a fucking 'home' crowd that looks like the game's being played at Murrrayfield, Lansdowne Rd, Millenium or Twickers.

I'm sure you and the Rebel Army will do a top job!

 

[grievous]

Adelaide looks totally screwed after all the good work has been done locally around the 7s. Cheers ARU.

 

[Tangawizi]

I hope we play those games against Argentina on the Gold Coast on a Saturday/Sunday afternoon. Some Argentinian girls in the crowd in bikinis would be worth turning up to watch, nevermind the on-field action.

 

[Set piece magic]

Gav is right however, we might have a mandate for these big games in QLD but yes I am quite sure that some sector of the QLD government splashes some cash to get it, along with 7's

GC should never host a test. It is only a train ride from Brisbane.

Yeah, pretty much like going to homebush

 

[Bowside]

I dont think you can complain to much about test matches in brisbane. They are always sell outs, and the wallabies seem to play better.

 

[Bowside]

Also would love to see us play the lions at a packed out MCG.

 

[Army_Gav]

Gav, on behalf of all non-Victorians on G&GR I implore you to start planning now and get as many people in gold making as much fucking noise as possible to Etihad for that Lions test. I do not want to see a fucking 'home' crowd that looks like the game's being played at Murrrayfield, Lansdowne Rd, Millenium or Twickers.

I'm sure you and the Rebel Army will do a top job!

I'm planning to make it to every test match on the tour. Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney I'll be there.

 

[Jnor]

Sounds good to me, I'll be trying but I doubt I'll get to all.

What's your display pic btw?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

The four bigger cities will be getting plenty of action already locked in for the expanded Four Nations competition, plus they'll be favoured for inbound tour from the bigger Six Nations countries.

Hopefully Canberra would have to be first choice for any tours from the smaller nations (and this includes Italy).

The ARU should also follow SANZAR'S lead and hold these winter matches in the afternoon.

Follow SANZAR? What are you referring to?


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=22.218570,-159.494952

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I guess it is all about growing the game and at the end of the day it is not a bad thing.

Most things grow up- to take an example: Adelaide rugby is woeful and tiny. 8 clubs I believe: and dont give me the population excuse because they have 2 AFL teams!
If you think you can grow the game by staging test matches then the test matches have to be billable as the pinnacle of rugby. From a marketing perspective that narrows the potential to, pretty much, the ABs because none of the home unions can be trusted to bring their number 1 players, France are a variable proposition dependibg on imponderables and Seth efrika may or may not bring their best team.
Marketing the all blacks anywhere is easy: "the best team in the world for 3 years and 364 days out of every 4 years".


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=22.217685,-159.494687

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Gav, on behalf of all non-Victorians on G&GR I implore you to start planning now and get as many people in gold making as much fucking noise as possible to Etihad for that Lions test. I do not want to see a fucking 'home' crowd that looks like the game's being played at Murrrayfield, Lansdowne Rd, Millenium or Twickers.

I'm sure you and the Rebel Army will do a top job!

No way-subject to the GFC- the ARU makes a fortune from inbound lions followers


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=22.217832,-159.495230

 

[Army_Gav]

Sounds good to me, I'll be trying but I doubt I'll get to all.

What's your display pic btw?

The future.

 

[EVERYFWDTHINKTHEYREA6OR7]

GC is a fantastic option. Flight's to visit are reasonably priced. It gives regional people on the mid to north coast of NSW a driveable distance to get to the game.

Plenty of accomodation. Cheaper option that going into Brisbane for out of towners.

 

[Ruggo]

And not playing a game at the GC distributes the product across the country how?

As I said in my allegedly "stupid" original post, the GC is only a train ride away from Brisbane. They have reasonable access to test rugby.

 

[matty_k]

Hi I live on the North Coast of NSW. Me and many others would make the trip to the Gold Coast to watch the game. Hence spreading wealth so to speak.

 

[waratahjesus]

i dont like gold coast for a different reason than local, well local comes into it.

its like people that say the ARU should spread the game and play games in Parramatta. There 20 thousand seat stadiums, when other stadiums are within distance of them that offer more seats it frustrates me that people think it grows the game to play there. If the gold coast sells out, it means people miss out on going to the rugby, if it doesnt it means that probably alot of fans that would have gone in brisbane havnt gone.

im all for them having a game, but there is an argument against it being a permanant arrangement for the next ten years to me.

 

[Slim 293]

Follow SANZAR? What are you referring to?


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=22.218570,-159.494952

Brumbies play a few afternoon matches next year in the colder months...