US & Japan may host Bledisloe Cup

Australia and New Zealand are considering playing the Bledisloe Cup in the United States and Japan over the next two years.

The two great rivals face each other in Hong Kong this weekend with the match expected to be a sell-out.

Australia rugby boss John O'Neill said: "We have got a formal proposal from Denver to host the Cup next year.

"We are also talking to the Japanese about the possibility of holding the game in 2010 in Tokyo."

Saturday's Hong Kong Test will be the first time the pair have met in the Bledisloe Cup outside of either Australia or New Zealand.

The fixture, that is understood to have generated just over £5.5m in revenue, will be their fourth encounter in 2008 with the other three taking place in the Tri-Nations.

O'Neill and New Zealand chief Steve Tew said they were open to the idea of taking fixtures between the pair around the globe.

"We've got several opportunities in front of us for 2009 and 2010, not necessarily Bledisloe Cup games but for additional games for the All Blacks," Tew said.

"We're working through those quite seriously. The Denver game has been mentioned in the media.

"It's fair to say both Australia and New Zealand have ticked the box that we should explore that further and we will have discussions on that this week."

If the 2008 Bledisloe Cup series is level after the Hong Kong match, New Zealand - as the current holders - will retain the trophy.

It was first awarded to the winning team in matches between the two antipodean rivals in 1932. The All Blacks have held it since 2003.