1967 Bledisloe Cup Match vs Australia (Sydney)

Lore & Background

The inaugural match is disputed: the Australian Rugby Union contends the one-off 1931 match at Eden Park was first, while the New Zealand Rugby Union believes the first match was when New Zealand toured Australia in 1932. Between 1931 and 1981, the cup was contested irregularly, with New Zealand winning 19 times and Australia 4 times. The trophy was reportedly lost and rediscovered in a Melbourne store room. From 1982 to 1995, it was contested annually, with New Zealand winning 11 times and Australia 3 times. Since 1996, the cup has been part of the Tri Nations (later The Rugby Championship). The format has varied between two-match and three-match series. In 2008, a fourth match was played in Hong Kong, and in 2009 and 2018, matches were held in Japan.

In Their Own Story

The air at the SCG hung heavy with the scent of cut grass and damp earth, a stark contrast to the dry heat radiating from the packed stands. Brian Lochore surveyed the field, his eyes scanning the Australian line that seemed to stretch endlessly across the pitch. The whistle blew, and the collision was immediate, a thunderous clash of shoulders that echoed through the stadium. Every tackle felt like a war cry, every ruck a battle for territory. As the All Blacks pushed forward, the crowd's roar shifted from anticipation to a nervous hum, sensing the shift in momentum. Lochore called for the ball, his voice cutting through the din, and with a precise pass, the attack began its slow, grinding march toward the try line. In that moment, amidst the mud and sweat, the future of New Zealand rugby was being forged.

Reader's Guide

The Bledisloe Cup currently consists of an annual two-match series, with matches counting towards The Rugby Championship. If the two teams win one game each, or both games are drawn, the cup is retained by its current holder. The non-holder must win 2–0 or 1–0 (with a draw) to regain the cup.

Did You Know?

• The trophy was reportedly lost and rediscovered in a Melbourne store room.
• In 1949, Australia won the competition for the first time on New Zealand soil.
• The 2008 Hong Kong match drew a crowd of 39,000 and generated over £5.5 million.
• The 2018 match in Yokohama set a record attendance for a rugby test match in Japan at around 46,000.