Next year's Bledisloe Cup, the annual three-match tournament between Australia and New Zealand, is under threat. The All Blacks want the third match to be played on August 29th but Australia are unhappy with that as it is only one week after their international in South Africa.

However, Australian Rugby Union general manager Brian Thorburn said the ARU had proposed playing the game on September 2nd or September 5th, but New Zealand say that would intrude on their provincial championship.

"For them, it's the August 29th or nothing," said Thorburn. "Until we can resolve this impasse, and hopefully sanity will prevail, the whole schedule is up in the air."