Tri Nations to finish two weeks before RWC

Thursday 19 August 2010
Published By: Amy Nicholson
Tri Nations > New Zealand

The 2011 Tri Nations tournament is to end just a couple of weeks before the start of the biggest prize in rugby is competed for in the Rugby World Cup.

In an unprecedented move, Sanzar (the body responsible for the Tri Nations sides) have announced that the 2011 Tri Nations tournament will end on 27th August in Brisbane with Australia playing the New Zealand, just 13 days before the opening match of the Rugby World Cup tournment which features the All Blacks against Tonga.

Sanzar have said that they hope it will give the three countries (New Zealand, South Africa and Australia) "crucial momentum in the final run up" to the tournament.

The 2011 Tri Nations will be the last in it's current format with Argentina joining the party from 2012 to form a "Four Nations" tournment.

The current Tri Nations tournment sees South Africa take on the All Blacks in Soweto at 94,000 seater FNB Stadium (known as Soccer City during the recent Football World Cup) this weekend.