All Blacks: Sky TV still to confirm rights for Italy test

Italy's Mirco Bergamasco is hit hard in the tackle of New Zealand's Isaia Toeava in a 2009 test. Photo / NZPA File

The All Blacks squad to tour Europe has been named and will leave on Thursday, but Sky Television has yet to confirm whether they will be broadcasting the match.

Sky TV and an international brokerage company negotiating on behalf of the Italy Rugby Union have yet to agree on a price for the rights, Sky spokeswoman Kirsty Way said.

Next month's Skywatch magazine cover features cartoons representing an All Black and players from Scotland, England and Wales, but an Italian is conspicuous by his absence. That also applies to the listings - there is no mention of the match against Italy in Rome which kicks off at 3am on Sunday, November 18 (NZT).

On the Rugby Channel that morning there is a scheduled live screening of England v Australia at 3.20 and later the France v Argentina test at 8.50am.

"We're in negotiations, Sky has put a bid for the match, we're very keen to show it, but we have not received confirmation that we have been successful," Way said.

"It's not particularly unusual. We can still get sports rights right up to the last week, last day, even hours before. It's not our preference because it limits the amount of time you've got to finalise production and promotion of the match."

The All Blacks last played in Italy in 2009, a 20-6 victory in Milan, but Way said she couldn't recall rights negotiations being an issue then.

She said she was struggling to recall a test involving the All Blacks in the professional era not screened by Sky.

"We know that Sky Sports fans and most New Zealanders would be very keen to see the match.

"It's certainly not [an] insignificant [cost] for All Blacks rights. Although the match is on at three in the morning, it's not the best time for our subscribers but it's the All Blacks," she said.

Dan Coles and Tawera Kerr-Barlow were the only uncapped players named in the All Blacks squad of 32 today, with coach Steve Hansen suggesting he will mix up his team for the first test against Scotland on Monday, November 12 (NZT) and Italy six days later.

The All Blacks finish their tour with matches against Wales in Cardiff and England at Twickenham.