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Anzac Test

From Alfawiki
Anzac Test
Company typeSporting event
IndustryRugby league
Founded1997
Defunct2017
Area served
Australia, New Zealand
ProductsRugby league test matches

The Anzac Test was a yearly rugby league test match contested between the national teams of Australia and New Zealand, competing for the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.

This series took place from 1997 through 2017, held annually except during the period from 2001 to 2003, serving as a mid-season international fixture. In 2019, the Oceania Cup replaced the Anzac Test series, broadening participation to include Pacific Island nations.

Origins

Rugby League Tests between Australia and New Zealand have been played since 1908. The Anzac Test, aligned with Anzac Day commemorations, was launched by Super League (Australia) in 1997. Following New Zealand’s heavy 56–0 defeat in 2000, the Australian Rugby League (ARL) encountered criticism regarding scheduling the match prior to the State of Origin series, resulting in its temporary suspension and rescheduling to mid-July. Strong performances in July Tests against Great Britain (64–10) and New Zealand (48–6) in 2002 and 2003 led to the reinstatement of the Anzac Test.

Naming controversy

The inclusion of Anzac—an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps—in a professional sporting context provoked debate about its suitability. Nevertheless, Super League (Australia) contributed considerable funds to the RSL, with RSL President Bruce Ruxton publicly supporting the inaugural match.

In Australia, the term Anzac is protected under The Protection of Word "ANZAC" Regulations, requiring ministerial consent for commercial use; such approval was granted between 1997 and 1999.

Between 2004 and 2008, the event was officially titled the Bundaberg Rum League Test after its main sponsor, Bundaberg Rum. Sponsorship changed hands in 2009 to Victoria Bitter, leading to the name VB Test. Despite these official alterations, the fixture continued to be widely referred to as the Anzac Test. By 2016, sponsorship was held by the Downer Group.

Trophy

Two distinct trophies have been presented to victors of this Test. From its inception in 1997 until 1999, winners received the Anzac Trophy, which symbolically incorporated an Australian slouch hat alongside a New Zealand lemon squeezer hat.

Starting in 2004, recipients of the Bundaberg Rum League Test were awarded the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy. This trophy was donated in 1996 by Gerald Ryan ONZM, former president of New Zealand Rugby League, commemorating Bill Kelly, an early rugby league player from New Zealand’s early 20th century.

Notably, after Australia’s victory in the 2006 Test, three New Zealand men briefly stole the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy but it was recovered within hours from an awning on a nearby building.

Revival after 2008 World Cup

In 2007, the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) announced plans to discontinue the Anzac Test following 2008 due to difficulties selecting top players—many affiliated with Super League during its summer season—and resistance from clubs. NZRL Director of Football Graham Lowe confirmed they would honor the centenary test commitment in 2008 but foresaw no continuation for this fixture while remaining hopeful about future international scheduling.

After New Zealand’s triumph at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, updates to RLIF World Rankings, and a revised international calendar, the annual mid-season test returned in 2009 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

The 2010 Anzac Test marked Melbourne’s AAMI Park debut on 7 May. In 2011, due to damage from the Christchurch earthquake, the match moved from Christchurch’s AMI Stadium to Robina Stadium on Australia’s Gold Coast. The following year’s test occurred at Auckland’s Eden Park on 20 April, officiated by English referee Richard Silverwood—representing the first Anzac Test held in New Zealand since 1998.

Canberra Stadium hosted its inaugural test on 19 April 2013 as part of Canberra’s centenary celebrations. The fixture returned to Sydney Football Stadium on 2 May 2014—the first Sydney-based test since the 2010 Four Nations tournament. In 2015, adverse weather caused a postponement of the Suncorp Stadium test from 1 May to 3 May—the first delay of a rugby league Test in Australia due to weather conditions. The 2016 contest took place at Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium on 6 May, where Australia secured a 16–0 win—the first Anzac Test held in Newcastle since 2004.

Conclusion

In August 2015, the National Rugby League (NRL) finalized a $925 million broadcasting agreement that placed a strong focus on player health and satisfaction by shortening the regular season from 26 to 25 weeks. The customary early-May representative round was eliminated, leading to the cancellation of the Anzac Test. Instead, Australia-New Zealand fixtures and other international competitions were allocated a specific post-season window. Additionally, the Pacific tests were moved to Sunday afternoons, aligning with game two of the State of Origin series.

The last Anzac Test was held on 5 May 2017 at Canberra Stadium, where the Kangaroos triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 30–12 in front of 18,535 spectators—the smallest crowd recorded for this event.

Men's Test Match Outcomes

Australia claimed victory in the majority of Anzac Tests, losing only three encounters, while New Zealand hosted just three matches throughout the series.

Year Winner Result Runner-up Venue Location Crowd
1997 Template:Rl 34–22 Template:Rl Sydney Football Stadium Sydney 23,829
1998 Template:Rl 22–16 Template:Rl North Harbour Stadium Auckland 25,000
1999 Template:Rl 20–14 Template:Rl Stadium Australia Sydney 30,245
2000 Template:Rl 52–0 Template:Rl Stadium Australia Sydney 26,023
2004 Template:Rl 37–10 Template:Rl Newcastle Sports Centre Newcastle 21,537
2005 Template:Rl 32–16 Template:Rl Suncorp Stadium Brisbane 40,317
2006 Template:Rl 50–12 Template:Rl Suncorp Stadium Brisbane 44,191
2007 Template:Rl 30–6 Template:Rl Suncorp Stadium Brisbane 35,241
Template:Rl 28–12 Template:Rl Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney 34,571
Year Winner Result Runner-up Venue Location Crowd
Template:Rl 38–10 Template:Rl Suncorp Stadium Brisbane 37,152
Template:Rl 12–8 Template:Rl AAMI Park Melbourne 29,442
Template:Rl 20–10 Template:Rl Robina Stadium Gold Coast 26,301
Template:Rl 20–12 Template:Rl Eden Park Auckland 35,329
Template:Rl 32–12 Template:Rl Canberra Stadium Canberra 25,628
Template:Rl 30–18 Template:Rl Sydney Football Stadium Sydney 25,429
Template:Rl 26–12 Template:Rl Suncorp Stadium Brisbane 32,681
Template:Rl 16–0 Template:Rl Newcastle Sports Centre Newcastle, New South Wales #Business and economy #Sport #Transport #Education #Health #Culture and recreation #Geography and environment #History #Demographics #Government and politics #Media #Notable people #Sister cities #References and further reading #External links, New South Wales 27,724


Aggregate Results

Team Victories
Australia1 16
New Zealand 2
  1. This count includes the Australia (Super League) win in the 1997 contest.

Women's Test Match Outcomes

The Women's Anzac Test, representing the female counterpart in rugby league, has been contested since 2015.

Year Champion Result Opponent Venue Location
2015 Template:Rl 22–14 Template:Rl Suncorp Stadium Brisbane
2016 Template:Rl 26–16 Template:Rl Newcastle Sports Centre Newcastle
2017 Template:Rl 16–4 Template:Rl Canberra Stadium Canberra

Aggregate Results

Team Victories
Australia 2
New Zealand 1

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External Resources

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