New Zealand Rugby unveil schedule for 2021

New Zealand Rugby have unveiled the schedule for 2021 during which they are planning to feature in 15 Tests.

The All Blacks' appearances were restricted to six games following the pandemic coronavirus and now the New Zealand board is planning for an action packed schedule for the next year.

New Zealand will host Italy and Fiji twice during the July series before heading to the Rugby Championship tournament that involves South Africa, Australia and Argentina. Like this year, Rugby Championship 2021 is likely to happen with a single host country at the end of the Super Rugby season.

This will also be the first time New Zealand will face Fiji since last playing the South Pacific side in 2011 when they registered a 60-14 win in Dunedin.

Italy, Ireland and France will line up as New Zealand's opponents during their November trip to Europe while they are also planning to secure two additional fixtures with nations in Asia, Europe and North America in contention.

“The All Blacks’ schedule for 2021 is starting to take shape. We are looking to host, Covid-dependent, Italy and Fiji in July,” Robinson said.

“We are also hoping to finalise the Rugby Championship schedule as well as Bledisloe Cup and a third Bledisloe for next year.

“We are also looking at opportunities to play games outside of our regulation 9 [international] window in November.

"At the moment we are due to play Italy, Ireland and France in those three weeks, but we’re looking at games on either shoulder of that fixture list in November or potentially two games before our first game in Europe against Italy".