Bledisloe looks to Tokyo

Tokyo is the preferred venue for an offshore Bledisloe Cup fixture in 2009, according to Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill.

Australia and New Zealand met on neutral soil for the first time outside of a World Cup in Hong Kong on November 1 and it is a venture O'Neill is keen to repeat next year.

Twickenham and Denver are also possible venues for the trans-Tasman contest but O'Neill and his New Zealand counterpart Steve Tew have been in discussions with the Japanese Rugby Union and the Japan capital is the front runner as the Antipodean unions bid to enhance their presence in Asia.

"Negotiations are continuing with the Japanese Rugby Union and its marketing arm," said O'Neill.

"It's progressing but we haven't reached any point of finality yet."

"But it would be fair to say our preference is Tokyo one, Twickenham two, Denver three."

Asia remains attractive to O'Neill following the success of the Hong Kong Test.

"Ourselves and New Zealand do have strategic ambitions in Asia," he said.

"The Bledisloe in Hong Kong this year on November 1 was very successful and we'd like to continue our strategy of trying to expand rugby's footprint in that incredibly important market."