The Bledisloe Cup is a Rugby Union tournament, played between the Australian Wallabies and New Zealand All Blacks since 1931, although there is some dispute regarding this. While the Australian Rugby Union is of the opinion that the first match was played as a one-off in 1931, the New Zealand Rugby Union opines that the first match was played in 1932 when New Zealand toured Australia. The cup gets its name from the man who donated the trophy â?? Lord Bledisloe, the Governorâ??General of New Zealand in 1931. The silver trophy designed by Nelson Isaac in New Zealand and crafted by Walker and Hall in London is the largest trophy in world rugby.

 

The Bledisloe Cup has seen frequent changes in all the years it has been played. From 1931 to1981 is was contested irregularly with New Zealand winning 19 times and Australia 4 times. Australiaâ??s victories include their first victory on New Zealand soil. The trophy was also â??lostâ?? during this period and then â??foundâ?? in a Melbourne storeroom. Between 1982 and 1995, the Bledisloe Cup contested every year, sometimes as a single match and sometimes in a three match series. During this period New Zealand won 11 of the 14 matches and Australia won the remaining.

 

1996 onwards, the Bledisloe Cup contested as part of the Tri Nations Tournament between New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in a three match series. New Zealand won the cup in 1996 and 97; Australia in 1998. From 1999 to 2005, the third match was not played.

 

Australia and New Zealand contested only two matches. If the series or each match ended in a draw, then the cup stayed with its current holder. This left the fans dissatisfied and hence in 2006 the third match was also played. However in 2007, the game reverted back to two match series due to the World Cup. In 2008, the Bledisloe Cup will be contested over four matches â?? 3 in Australia and New Zealand and one match, for the first time in another country i.e. Hong Kong. This is so as to increase awareness of this game in Asia.

 

You can enjoy the Bledisloe Cup this year when you visit Hong Kong in November. Make sure you reserve your hotel in Hong Kong well in advance, as you wouldn’t want to miss out on this historical sporting entertainment event just because you couldn’t get hotel accommodation in time. The Cosmo Hotel in Hong Kong accepts advance bookings throughout the year, so get your reservations as early as possible.