Queensland has secured a six-year deal to host an ANZAC Day Bledisloe Cup rugby test every two years.
The fixture between the Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks has been locked in for 2027, 2029 and 2031, with New Zealand to host the match in the alternate years.
The annual match commemorates the bond forged through the sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli in 1915.
Queensland will also deliver a new business schedule around the match, including the ANZAC Bledisloe/O’Reilly Cup Breakfast, the Australian Rugby Summit and the Super Rugby Pacific Summit.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said Queensland had locked in the ANZAC Day Bledisloe Cup matches as part of its Destination 2045 Tourism plan, which sought to make the State the events capital of Australia.
“We are bringing the Bledisloe Cup to Queensland, with an historic agreement to lock in ANZAC Day tests until 2031,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“This is part of our plan to deliver new signature events for Queensland and raid interstate events, growing tourism and supporting Queensland jobs.”
Deputy Mayor Fiona Cunningham said the Wallabies and All Blacks on ANZAC Day would be an unforgettable moment for Brisbane.
“Suncorp Stadium is one of the great rugby venues and this fixture will bring a huge atmosphere to the heart of our city,” she said.
“This is more than just a game of rugby. It’s a chance to honour the connection between Australia and New Zealand while showcasing Brisbane to audiences around the world.”
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said a test match of this significance would draw fans to Brisbane and inspire Queensland’s rugby community.
“As a new, marquee fixture on the global sporting calendar, the Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test will be watched by tens of millions across Australia, New Zealand and beyond at a time Queensland is preparing to welcome the world to its shores for next year’s Rugby World Cup and the 2032 Olympics,” he said.
“The 123-year history of Australia and New Zealand rugby is renowned and revered across the globe and the first ever staging of a Bledisloe Cup Test on Anzac Day will, we believe, create a new trans-Tasman sporting tradition that will bring our nations together and reinforce our shared values.”
New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster said the ANZAC Day Bledisloe Cup would showcase the deep ties that unite New Zealand and Australia.
“New Zealand and Australia share a special and unique bond built on sporting rivalries, friendship and those men and women who have served our countries in global conflicts, some making the ultimate sacrifice in doing so,” Mr Lancaster said.
“Playing the Bledisloe Cup on Anzac Day creates a unique trans-Tasman sporting occasion that honours our countries’ shared history and cultures, while bringing people together through rugby.”
