Rugby League: Hosting of Anzac test 'not for negotiation'

WELLINGTON - The Anzac rugby league test will probably be played in Wellington next year despite calls from Australia to hold it in Sydney.

New Zealand Rugby League general manager Gary Allcock and president Gerald Ryan head across the Tasman next week hoping to finalise details for next month's international Tri-Series and to confirm plans for the Anzac test.

But there is expected to be resistance among Australian clubs to staging next year's test in New Zealand.

At a meeting of National Rugby League chief executives several weeks ago, clubs expressed their annoyance at having to travel to New Zealand in the middle of their competition.

Australian Rugby League acting general manager Chris Turner said there were several issues the clubs were worried about.

"The concern was that the only day that fitted in close to Anzac Day was Good Friday," Turner said.

"There was a feeling that a rugby league game, a test match, on Good Friday in New Zealand may not go down too well.

"There's also a strong feeling that playing the game on a Friday night, the majority of the players would have to hightail it back to Australia on the Saturday morning.

"For those reasons it was thought it might be more appropriate to play it in Australia."

Allcock said he was very close to signing a contract with WestpacTrust Stadium officials and, as far as he was concerned, the Australian argument carried no weight.

"That's too bad, it's our turn to host it.

"It's not up for negotiation. The Anzac test will be in New Zealand next year."

Ryan negotiated test-match scheduling with the Australians last year, and included in that was a proviso that the team who had to travel to the annual Anzac test would host two test matches later in the year.

However, no formal contracts were signed, and the continuing power struggles in Australia between the ARL, who handle international fixtures, and the NRL, who control the club competition, mean that nothing can be taken for granted.

But Allcock remains firm.

"At the end of the day, the Australian clubs don't run international football."

New Zealand will host Australia and Great Britain next month in the international Tri-Series.

New Zealand's offer to host the final, on November 5, was accepted by Australian officials, who were unsure of the financial viability of the series. - NZPA