5 Jul 2014

NZRU says All Blacks to play in Samoa

7:52 pm on 5 July 2014

The New Zealand Rugby Union is confident the All Blacks will play a match in Samoa next year, but nothing has yet been finalised.

The New Zealand Herald has reported the All Blacks will play a match in Apia, probably in July next year.

The head of the NZRU, Steve Tew, says there are a number of issues to work through, including timing, commercial feasibility and the All Blacks' preparations for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

"It's a bit hard to say until we sit down and talk to the Samoans - they've got to make sure they can get their players in and that the other logistics all line up.

"But I'm pretty confident - we intend to make it work and so all things being equal, we will."

There has been criticism that New Zealand have never played a test match in the Pacific Islands, despite many players having Pasifika heritage.

The All Blacks perform the Haka meeting Australia in a Bledisloe Cup match in Dunedin last October.

The All Blacks perform the Haka meeting Australia in a Bledisloe Cup match in Dunedin last October. Photo: AFP (file)