American Marconi Wireless News - All Blacks face France in first Test at new Christchurch stadium

New Zealand welcome France on July 4 in the 12-team Nations Championship at the state-of-the-art 30,000-seat Te Kaha Stadium, also known as the One New Zealand Stadium.

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake in February 2011 killed 185 people, toppled buildings and paralysed New Zealand's second largest city with the main rugby stadium damaged beyond repair.

Super Rugby's Canterbury Crusaders moved to a temporary home at a small rugby league stadium, but its size meant the All Blacks have played only five times in the city since the earthquake, the last time in 2022 against Argentina.

"For the All Blacks to play at the new One New Zealand Stadium 15 years after the earthquakes will be a special moment for the team and a significant occasion for rugby," All Blacks chief executive Mark Robinson said.

New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson, who played for and coached the Crusaders, said: "It will be an historic occasion for Christchurch."

New Zealand also announced Nations Championship home fixtures against Italy, in Wellington on July 11, and Ireland, in Auckland on July 18.

"Hosting France, Italy and Ireland in consecutive weeks will be new for our players and it creates three unique match experiences for fans in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland as we kick off the Nations Championship era," said Robinson.

The All Blacks will play their home Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia at Eden Park, Auckland, on October 10 with the return in Sydney a week later.

F.Bennett--AMWN