Rugby: Silence over Hong Kong match reports

The New Zealand Rugby Union is playing down reports that the All Blacks will play an extra rugby test against Australia in Hong Kong next year.

An NZRU spokesman today said a range of options were being considered for next season but nothing was yet confirmed.

The Australian newspaper last week speculated about the potential revenue-earning game, with Australian Rugby Union spokesman Brian West saying it had been explored for two months.

Any such match would be separate to the three Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup fixtures scheduled for 2008.

Today's Sunday News newspaper said officials had given the Hong Kong game the go-ahead, while both reports said the fixture would be scheduled either before or after the two teams' tour Europe late in the year.

The NZRU also would not comment on speculation that it was seeking to add extra tests to the All Blacks' tour which already comprises two tests against Scotland and one against Ireland.

The Sunday News said the tour would comprise midweek games and feature a touring party of more than 40 players.

- NZPA