Fiji missing from NZRU schedule list
Both sides are missing from the schedule list released yesterday by the New Zealand Rugby Union for visiting teams who have agreed to play test series.
Fiji was last seen in action in New Zealand in 2005 and Scotland last toured New Zealand in 2000.
Argentina, Australia and South Africa are missing from the tours list, but they will be involved in annual home and away Four Nations series from 2012.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said the new schedule was a major step forward for the sport in the Southern Hemisphere, with SANZAR countries now hosting three test series in June of each year.
Ireland will tour New Zealand in 2012 for the initial three test series before France then England follow in successive seasons.
The schedule meant the NZRU would also be able to explore the possibility of midweek matches for the visiting Northern Hemisphere sides.
The 2005 Lions tour demonstrated the interest from fans in tours that went beyond test matches, while there was also a greater opportunity for visitors to plan around a tour schedule.
The All Blacks tour schedule will be as follows, in 2012 three tests against Ireland, in 2013 three tests against France and in 2014, three tests against England.
Then in 2015, there will be no June or November tours because of the World Cup in England.
In 2016, New Zealand again start the three test series against Wales, in 2017 they have the British and Irish Lions tour, in 2018 three tests against France and in 2019 again there will be no tours in June and November because of the World Cup in Japan.
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