Eden Park to Host VB Test Match
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Benji Marshall on the run, Eden Park Four Nations 2010 (Photosport)
International rugby league is heading back to Eden Park with the
NZRL confirming that the first of their two 2012 clashes against
Australia will be played at New Zealand's largest stadium on
Friday, April 20.
Eden Park CEO, David Kennedy, welcomed confirmation of the Test.
"It's great to see New Zealand rugby league's biggest international
of the year coming to New Zealand's premier stadium."
Eden Park hosted eleven Rugby World Cup matches last year,
including both the semi-finals and the final. NZRL CEO Jim
Doyle says, "It is now an excellent facility and we want the Kiwis
to be playing on the biggest and best stage we have." Doyle
continues, "This promises to be a fantastic night out for all
families and fans. We're expecting a great crowd to come
along and support the Kiwis."
Rugby league crowds are certainly not newcomers to Eden Park.
When the Kiwis and Kangaroos clashed in the 2010 Four Nations,
there were 44,324 at the ground. That was the second largest crowd
the NZRL had seen for a game, behind the 47,363 that watched the
1988 World Cup final, also at Eden Park.
The last time New Zealand hosted the Anzac Test was back in
1998. That year the Kiwis, helped by a couple of Kevin Iro tries,
won 22-16 at North Harbour Stadium. But that's also the last time
New Zealand won the annual fixture.
In a move welcomed by the NZRL, players from both teams will
benefit from this year's Test being played as a standalone fixture,
with no NRL games scheduled that weekend.
Tickets for the 2012 VB Test Match go on sale through Ticketek
(0800 842 538, www.ticketek.co.nz and all agencies,) from Friday,
February 3.