Rugby: Three-game June test series likely from 2012

The Lions played three tests here in 2005. Photo / Kenny Rodger

A semblance of tradition will be restored to the rugby calendar in 2012 as plans are advanced for the All Blacks to host one team every June in a three-test series.

Rather than persevere with the current format where the All Blacks play either three one-off tests in June or two against one nation and one against another, they will host one country, playing them three times in consecutive weeks.

Such a format even opens the scope for an old-fashioned tour with mid-week games a possibility.

While the plans are advanced, they have not yet been signed off, with details still to be worked through before the IRB announces the five-year fixture list.

The new itinerary will not be in play for World Cup years, and it's unclear what will happen in 2013 when the British Lions tour Australia.

As the four Home Unions will not have access to their best players only Italy and France will be capable of handling a three-test series and there would be concerns about the quality of the former.

Under this proposal there will be no changes to the November format - the touring southern hemisphere unions will continue to play one-off tests against Six Nations' opponents.

There had been discussion about emulating the June window in November but the demand for the All Blacks was too high. All of the Six Nations countries are desperate to regularly host the All Blacks as they are the only opponents who guarantee a sell-out.

With the NZRU acutely aware of the power of their brand and how much money the All Blacks help other countries generate through ticket sales, strong efforts were made to force a re-think on the existing financial model around test match revenues.

The amateur model has been retained in the professional age where the hosting union keeps all the gate receipts but pays the travel and accommodation costs of their hosts once they reach their playing destination.

The NZRU have long argued this is unfair as the All Blacks sell out huge grounds such as Twickenham and Millennium Stadium to generate around $10 million per test, while the northern hemisphere nations send weakened sides here in June where the national body is lucky to make $3m from a game.

A proposal was put forward to split the collective revenues of both the June and November tests more fairly. That proposal has been rejected, which means the NZRU will continue to organise tests outside the official three-week November window.

When the game falls outside the confines of the IRB schedule, the NZRU are able to negotiate a fee and in recent years that has been substantial with £1.5m ($3.2m) the going rate for playing at Twickenham.