The man behind the 2025 World Cup in North America has today confirmed that talks are at an advanced stage for England to play New Zealand in the United States next June.
This May saw an end to the annual Anzac Test between Australia and New Zealand, with next year's standalone weekend on June 23-24 to coincide with State Of Origin game 2.
Jason Moore confirmed to The Sydney Morning Herald earlier today that a proposal has been made for England to face the Kiwis in the US on that weekend, with Denver, Colorado sounded out as a preferred location.
"What is the proposal?
It's to play a fully fledged, internationally sanctioned Test Match in the United States of America on the bye weekend afforded to us by the Sunday State of Origin game," said Moore.
“We have to start exploring different areas now because the sport is played globally. It's an opportunity for the players to go to a new market and showcase the elite level of Rugby League."
England to play New Zealand in US next year on Origin weekend https://t.co/ry5lIqAtU6
— Steve Mascord (@therealsteavis) December 3, 2017
Despite Moore’s optimism around the proposal, it seems likely that many Super League and NRL clubs will be reluctant to agree to the fixture due to the extra travel time players will have to endure mid-season.
A deciding factor on whether the game is played in the States could be the success of the recent Rugby League World Cup, which could take the decision out of the club’s hands.
The RLIF are keen to expand the international game far and wide and with no domestic fixtures scheduled on the proposed weekend, Super League and NRL clubs may be left with no option but to release their players for the fixture.
Toronto Wolfpack’s recent success has prompted many to push for a major fixture to be played in North America to whet the appetite ahead of the 2025 World Cup.
Venue needed
Current England coach Wayne Bennett confirmed that they would play New Zealand in a mid-season Test Match in 2018, but a venue has still yet to be announced.
Speaking earlier in the year, Bennett, who is still yet to decide his England future and is being heavily linked with the Kiwis coaching job, said: “I think the mid-year Test will be a help to us because we play more games as an international team.
"We will be playing New Zealand in a mid-year Test now when the Origin match is on a Sunday, starting next year.
“Australia get a huge advantage through the Origin, New Zealand get an advantage because they have been playing the mid-year Tests against Australia on a regular basis and England have got to start to do more of that.”
