Slow ticket sales threaten Hong Kong Bledisloe Cup test

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The Hong Kong Bledisloe Cup rugby test next month is reportedly under threat due to poor ticket sales.

Television news reports in New Zealand tonight said the fourth trans-Tasman international of the year, scheduled for Hong Kong Stadium on October 30, might be relocated to England that weekend before the All Blacks and Wallabies start their northern hemisphere tours.

A New Zealand Rugby Union spokesman confirmed there was concern about sluggish ticket sales but no decision had been made on the fixture's future.

Less than 10,000 tickets had been purchased so far for the 40,000-seat venue.

Hong Kong Stadium hosted the inaugural Bledisloe Cup test on neutral ground in 2008, an occasion that did not attract a sellout crowd.

Last year the match was held in Japan at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium, where ticket giveaways were required to boost crowd numbers.

England rugby headquarters at Twickenham in London has previously been explored as the setting for a revenue-generating test between the trans-Tasman rivals.

Asian locations took precedence because of a desire to grow the game in that region.

The All Blacks start their Grand Slam tour at Twickenham on November 6 before tests against Scotland, Ireland and Wales on successive weekends.

Australia's tour covers tests against Wales, England, Italy and France plus midweek games against Irish province Munster and England's Leicester.

- NZPA