Grand Slam tour for All Blacks on the cards

NZRFU chief executive Chris Moller

Wales have offered to host an extra test so the All Blacks can attempt a Grand Slam tour of Britain later this year, but the proposal has not been accepted by the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Negotiations reopened recently to find some way to commemorate the first 1905 meeting between the two rugby nations and to offer the All Blacks their first Grand Slam tour since 1978.

Wales suggested they stage the test on November 5 before the All Blacks play the rest of their test schedule on successive weekends against Ireland, England and Scotland.

New Zealand felt that was too close to the October 22 NPC final and countered with a request that they play Wales at the end of the tour on December 3.

The haggling has intensified in recent weeks and NZRFU chief executive Chris Moller confirmed he received Wales' latest email on the issue yesterday.

"We have been given this option [November 5] but our preference is a date at the end of the tour," he said.

"It would be a wonderful finale to the end of the year, especially if Wales win this weekend and are the Six Nations and Grand Slam champions.

"We could have the test at the start, at the end or not at all," Moller confirmed.

"The ball is in our court and we have to decide definitely over the next few weeks."

Wales originally had a problem with an extra test against the All Blacks because of the club or country contract wrangles which affect their players.

That difficulty appears to have been resolved, with Wales certain they can field a full side against the All Blacks on November 5.

"The problem with that is the time frame," Moller said. "It is only two weeks after the NPC final and we would like to have our top players in that competition."

There was no chance of shuffling the All Blacks' other three tests. Those games had been settled by the International Rugby Board.

"The end of the tour is much more attractive, but if that is not feasible for the Welsh then we have got to further deliberate if a two-week gap is enough for us before we play a possible Six Nations and Grand Slam champion," Moller said.

There had not been any definitive feedback from the All Black selectors about the issues.

If New Zealand and Wales agreed on their extra test, Moller said the IRB was likely to sanction the game as long as each nation fulfilled their other international commitments.

Last Slams

* 1978: Graham Mourie's All Blacks won all four tests, including their controversial 13-12 victory against Wales.

* The same year Wales won the Five Nations Grand Slam, the last time they have achieved it.