Rugby: NZRU chasing three-test home series

France won the Dave Gallaher Cup last year on points differential. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand will push hard for the All Blacks to play three-test home series when the International Rugby Board (IRB) meets in Dublin next month.

Stung when last year's competitive home series against France was left hanging at 1-1, New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief executive Steve Tew is quietly confident the IRB will agree a best-of-three series is most beneficial for the promotion of the game.

"We're confident but until the votes are cast you never quite know," Tew said.

"There's been a (IRB) working party in place. This is their recommendation and is exactly what we think should be the next step.

"But you go to the IRB council and you've got to get the vote."

France won the Dave Gallaher Cup last year on points differential over the two tests in Dunedin and Wellington, with the third weekend of the June window filled by a low-interest test against Italy, which drew a small crowd in Christchurch. France meanwhile crossed the Tasman for a one-off fixture against Australia.

"It was all meaningless in the context ... it was very disappointing not to play a decider," Tew said.

The main focus of the IRB conference on May 14-15 is likely to be on global concerns over the way the game is being played and refereed.

Leading coaches, officials and administrators from the world's top-20 ranked nations will debate issues which have emerged following a survey of all 117 IRB member nations.

The central theme is "global playing trends", with the delegates to discuss the tackle/ruck area, excess kicking and scrum collapses/resets.

The conference is not a decision-making forum but any recommendations which emerge will be put to the IRB's committee at its October meeting.

The physicality of the modern game and player welfare is also on the agenda, along with the IRB's law-making process.

- NZPA