The All Blacks under lights?

Press, 28 June 1989, Page 64

The All Blacks under lights?

PA Wellington The All Blacks could play a number of their matches at the 1991 Rugby World Cup in Britain and France under lights. The night matches would allow for live broadcasts to breakfast audiences in New Zealand, and perhaps Japan and Australia. The 1991 Rugby World Cup committee, which met in Wellington on Sunday and Monday to review its marketing and communications strategy, announced yesterday it was postponing the publication of the tournament schedule until the possibility of staging night matches had been fully explored. The committee, in confirming the appointment of British firm, Television Sport and Leisure Limited, as broadcast managers for the tournament, said it wanted to ensure the largest possible television audiences world-wide took in the event — as often as feasible live.

Therefore, to cater for rugby fans in Australasia, it would be necessary to involve the Wallabies and All Blacks in night matches. Live broadcasts of those matches would reach Australasia in mid to late morning. The committee, chaired by England’s John Ken-dall-Carpenter and including the New Zealand Rugby Football Union chairman, Russ Thomas, said a survey was being carried out on the floodlight capabilities of various grounds in Britain and France under consideration as venues.