The addition of Argentina to the Tri Nations tournament has seen a relaunched competition announced today, known as ‘The Rugby Championship’.
The Pumas will now face the Wallabies, Springboks and All Blacks in regular international competition, with the Australian games to be played in Sydney, Gold Coast and Perth.
The home and away series will feature Argentina taking on the Wallabies at home at a yet to be confirmed venue – possibly at Vélez Sársfield in Buenos Aires or River Plate Stadium, both in Buenos Aires on October 6th, 2012 .
The last game between the two sides in Argentina was in 2002 at River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, where Australia won a 17-6 tussle.
The name allows individual naming rights to be sold, with the tournament known as The Castrol Edge Rugby Championship, while in New Zealand it will be known as The Investec Rugby Championship.
“The Rugby Championship will be the best of the best and represents the latest stage in the evolution of the game in the southern hemisphere,” said Australian Rugby Union Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill AO.
“The All Blacks are the No.1 side in the world, the Wallabies are No.2, the Springboks are No.4 and Argentina is No.7.
“This will be an exciting, enthralling, intense Championship of home and away matches between four heavyweight nations.
“They will play six matches each, three at home and three away, and the status of this event will be fitting of the moniker ‘The Rugby Championship’.
“On top of the announcement last week of the International against Scotland on 5 June, and the Welsh Tour which includes three Tests the same month, confirmation of The Rugby Championship adds further lustre to the 2012 program.
“It will be a magnificent season of international Rugby in Australia, with eight Tests domestically.
“We are also introducing two new Test venues in Ausgrid Stadium at Newcastle for the Scottish game and Skilled Park at the Gold Coast for the Argentina match.”
The first game of the new tournament will be the Wallabies against New Zealand in Sydney, which also counts as the first Bledisloe game of 2012.
“We have come a long way and to open The Rugby Championship with a Bledisloe Cup Test against our closest and most ferocious rivals – and to lock in that game against the All Blacks “same time, same place” for the next 10 years – is hugely exciting,” said Mr O’Neill.
“We will build a Bledisloe Cup Festival each year in the lead-up and sporting fans can put the weekend in their diaries as a consistent feature on the calendar.
“To kick off that decade of Sydney Bledisloe Cup Tests in the same year we launch The Rugby Championship is wonderful for the game.
The Rugby Championship – Full draw
Date Time Description Venue
18 Aug TBA Wallabies v All Blacks ANZ Stadium, Sydney
18 Aug TBA Springboks v Argentina Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
25 Aug TBA All Blacks v Wallabies Eden Park, Auckland
25 Aug TBA Argentina v Springboks TBA
8 Sep TBA Wallabies v Springboks Subiaco Oval, Perth
8 Sep TBA All Blacks v Argentina Westpac Stadium, Wellington
15 Sep TBA Wallabies v Argentina Skilled Park, Gold Coast
15 Sep TBA All Blacks v Springboks Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
29 Sep TBA Springboks v Wallabies Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
29 Sep TBA Argentina v All Blacks TBA
6 Oct TBA Springboks v All Blacks TBA
6 Oct TBA Argentina v Wallabies TBA
AndyS
Guest
I have to say I am a little surprised by the schedule. My recollection of the early indications was that SA wanted to finish away from home to minimise distractions leading up to the business end of the CC, and Aus/NZ wanted the Bledisloe matches to go up against the NRL. Seems we got the direct opposite.
Mike
Guest
If its not, we New South Welshmen will gravely commiserate with the Queenslanders, whilst choking back our mocking laughter...
Jerry
Guest
Assuming the Bled is still on the line...
Brett McKay
Expert
it's exactly the same as is the case for Super Rugby, and was for the TNs before that...
Mike
Guest
Wonderful to see Argentina finally in there. This will shake things up. And three bledisloes. Its going to be a great year.
Mike
Guest
Of course. That will make up for all. Tradition in spades. The most intense match in an intense rugby year.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
There must be fears the Argentines will be exhausted after a neverending European club rugby season. Plus they will effectively have no break at all. There is talk of moving their players into Super rugby, but that would mean huge pay cuts for the players. Then there is talk of Super teams from Buenos Aires.
p.Tah
Guest
Australia has and the ABs drew 21-21
Green Lantern
Guest
who have ever lost to Argentina in Argentina?
onor
Guest
its going to be bloody hard to beat Argentina away from home!!!
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Awful name: obviously it's rugby. All three old nations will have to share much 'intellectual capital' and the IRB will have to bully Argentina and European rugby clubs in order to get Argentina up to scratch. No one wants to see 6 heavy losses. 2 matches a week will increase the scale and sense of importance of the competition. Once it gets to five or six, it will start to be something really excellent.
danisrob
Guest
It will be great having two games a weekend. Though I imagine the time differences are going to be confusing to begin with The Rugby Championship name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, I wonder what the general publick will end up referring it to as? Four/Quad Nations?
Green Lantern
Guest
Kuruki, By that notion, same could be said about Argentina in South America. Great schedule for Aus and NZ thou, oh well, we have a Bok B side for those matches. Terrible tournament name thou.
panatellas
Guest
From today's media release from ARU: 'ARU also confirmed today Brisbane will host the last of the three Bledisloe Cup Tests against arch-rival New Zealand in 2012. The third blockbuster in the trans-Tasman series will be played after The Castrol Edge Rugby Championship, with Suncorp Stadium the venue for the clash on Saturday, 20 October. The first two Tests of the Bledisloe Cup series – in Sydney on 18 August and Auckland on 25 August – will be incorporated into The Castrol Edge Rugby Championship.'
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I think it is going to be a bit of a joke having each country giving a different name to the competition. Once again money comes before common sense.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Well im guessing they have been given the 3 away games in a row for exactly that reason. They have so far to travel back and forward from Africa, so why not lessen the travel by allowing them to base away from Africa for that 3 week period without having to make the trip home. it makes sense to me.
p.Tah
Guest
I agree, 2 games a week is fantastic.
Johnno
Guest
Just hope argies get 100% full squad, super 15 has to have an argie rule for 2012 season to get them playing full strength team, and argues local league has to go semi pro like shute shield.
p.Tah
Guest
I'm sure the Boks B team will cope with the travel.
HunterS
Guest
South Africa gets 3 tests on the road in a row. With the toughest travel shedule geographicaly, seems reasonable. Why does'nt Paddy Obrian and Bryce Lawrence make it law that they have to play with a broken leg each while they are at it.