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New Zealand Rugby and the Blues have secured the key signature of All Blacks lock and Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu.

According to the All Blacks’ official website, the 27-year-old has re-signed until the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Tuipulotu has played 30 Tests for the All Blacks and 74 matches for the Blues since making his Test and Super Rugby debuts in 2014.

“I am pleased to continue to play for New Zealand Rugby and the Blues until 2023 and excited about the future,” Tuipulotu said.

“During the lockdown I realised more than ever how much I love this game and love playing for the Blues. We are beginning to develop into a really good side and it is an honour to lead them.

“I am still young and learning all the time, and I want to establish myself as an international player.”

All Blacks coach Ian Foster added: “This is fantastic news for New Zealand Rugby and the Blues.

Rugby Australia is in talks with the government about allowing New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina’s teams to enter the country and be based in a “hub” for a condensed Rugby Championship later in the year.

After a two-month lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19, Australian authorities have allowed sports to restart domestic competition, but international fixtures remain in doubt due to travel curbs and border controls.

Sanzaar, comprised of partner rugby unions in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina, is the governing body of the four-nation Rugby Championship and Super Rugby.

Australian and New Zealand officials have spoken for weeks of opening up a “trans-Tasman bubble” of restriction-free travel between the two countries, which have reduced Covid-19 infections to a trickle.

Clarke confirmed RA was trying to extend the annual Bledisloe Cup series between the Wallabies and All Blacks to four Tests from the usual three.

The Springboks will bid an emotional farewell to DHL Newlands in Cape Town in July, and will face the All Blacks in a brand-new venue in September, after SA Rugby confirmed the host stadiums for the Boks’ six home Tests in 2020 on Tuesday.

All three the Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches – against New Zealand, Australia and Argentina – will take place up north, while the three Tests in the Castle Lager Incoming Series – against Scotland and Georgia in a new Test window in July – will be hosted on the coast.

In what will be a final international at the oldest Test venue in the Southern Hemisphere, DHL Newlands in Cape Town will host the Springboks for their first match since their memorable triumph over England in the Rugby World Cup Final in Japan last November.

The two-match series against the Scots kicks off on Saturday 4 July in Cape Town, with the two sides meeting again a week later at Jonsson Kings Park in Durban.

That is followed by a historic first home Test for the Springboks against Georgia, at the majestic Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Mandela Day (Saturday, 18 July). The Friendly City traditionally pulls in very good crowds for Springbok Tests and the Boks can look forward to another good turnout against the Georgians.

The Springboks will also defend their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title, which starts with a match against Argentina at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 8 August.

The away match against the Pumas on 15 August is then followed by a visit to Australasia for the away fixtures against the Wallabies (29 August) and All Blacks (5 September) before the Boks return to South Africa for two home fixtures to complete their 2020 campaign.

Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria will host the Springboks’ clash with the Wallabies on 19 September, where the Australians have yet to register a win against the men in green and gold, after which the highly-anticipated Test against the All Black will take place a week at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, on 26 September.

The Springboks home Test schedule for 2020:

Castle Lager Incoming Series:

4 July: South Africa vs Scotland – DHL Newlands, Cape Town

11 July: South Africa vs Scotland – Jonsson Kings Park, Durban

18 July: South Africa vs Georgia – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Castle Lager Rugby Championship:

8 August: South Africa vs Argentina – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg

19 September: South Africa vs Australia – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

26 September: South Africa vs New Zealand – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

World champions South Africa will play 13 Tests this year, starting at home to Scotland on July 4 and ending away to Wales on November 28. The schedule was completed on Wednesday after a Welsh Rugby Union statement confirmed that the Springboks would conclude a four-international European tour at the Principality Stadium.

The British and Irish Lions will play twice at the Cape Town Stadium on a 2021 tour – against the Stormers and the Springboks.

Springboks Rugby schedule

Tests

July 4: Springboks vs Scotland, Cape Town

July 11: Springboks vs Scotland, Durban

July 18: Springboks vs Georgia, Port Elizabeth

Rugby Championship

August 8: Springboks vs Argentina, Johannesburg

August 15: Springboks vs Argentina, San Juan

August 29: Springboks vs Australia, Perth

September 5: Springboks vs New Zealand, Auckland

September 19: Springboks vs Australia, Pretoria

September 26: Springboks vs New Zealand, Mbombela

The 2020 mid-year rugby union internationals (also known as the summer internationals in the Northern Hemisphere) are international rugby union matches that are mostly played in the Southern Hemisphere during the July international window.

France and Wales are to tour Argentina and New Zealand respectively as they did in 2016. They will both play a two-test series as France did four years prior, but unlike Wales as they played New Zealand three times. Ireland are again to tour Australia like they did in 2018, but this time would also play two tests instead of their previous three

29 May 2020 Spain vs New Zealand Classic All Blacks Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid | 20:45 CEST (UTC+02)

21 June 2020 15:00 BST (UTC+01) England vs Barbarians Twickenham Stadium, London

27 June 2020 Japan vs Wales Shizuoka Stadium, Shizuoka

3 July 2020 Blue Bulls South Africa vs Georgia

4 July 2020 Australia vs Ireland Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

4 July 2020 Japan vs England Oita Stadium, Ōita

4 July 2020 Argentina vs France Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba

4 July 2020 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) New Zealand vs Wales Eden Park, Auckland

4 July 2020 17:05 EDT (UTC-4) South Africa vs Scotland Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

4 July 2020 Canada vs France French Barbarians TBA, Montreal

4 July 2020 United States vs Italy

11 July 2020 South Africa vs Georgia

11 July 2020 Australia vs Ireland Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

11 July 2020 Japan vs England Kobe Misaki Stadium, Kobe

11 July 2020 Argentina vs France Estadio B.G. Estanislao López, Santa Fe

11 July 2020 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) New Zealand vs Wales Sky Stadium, Wellington

11 July 2020 17:05 EDT (UTC-4) South Africa vs Scotland Kings Park, Durban

11 July 2020 United States vs France Barbarians TBA, New York City

11 July 2020 Canada vs Italy TBA, Halifax

18 July 2020 17:05 EDT (UTC-4) South Africa vs Georgia Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

18 July 2020 Argentina vs Italy Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta

18 July 2020 Australia vs Fiji Willows Sports Complex, Townsville, Queensland

18 July 2020 19:35 NZST (UTC+12) New Zealand vs Scotland Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin