The All Blacks and Australian Kangaroos seem set to meet in a bizarre cross-code rugby blockbuster in December.
News Corp Australia is reporting the joint rugby-rugby league proposal was discussed at this week's NZ Rugby board meeting and is close to approval, under some kind of hybrid 14-a-side rules.
"We are in serious negotiations," confirms Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga. "This would take the Kangaroos to the world - there will be global recognition.
"We are in serious talks, but obviously news of this has got out.
"I'm keen to make this happen. We want to play the All Blacks, hopefully we can get the concept off the ground."
News Corp is reporting the game would be staged on December 5 - two weeks after this year's State of Origin league series - with venue and revenue among the biggest issues remaining.
Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, Sydney's ANZ Stadium, Perth's Optus Stadium and the Adelaide Oval are among possible sites for the encounter.
The Australian cites former NZ Kiwis rugby league international Dean Lonergan as the mastermind behind the idea, although he refused to comment when contacted by Newshub.
NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson has also confirmed these discussions, but is markedly less bullish than Meninga.
"It must be clear that our first priority is for the All Blacks to play international rugby for the remainder of the year," he says.
"But absolutely, we've had the option put to us for this hybrid game with the Kangaroos and it's one of many different scenarios, in a unique year like this, that we're considering with a view to being innovative and having a focus on revenue-generating ideas at this time.
"Those discussions will be ongoing and we'll be talking with lots of other people approaching us with different ideas."
Both codes are reeling financially after the coronavirus shutdown, so this concept looms as a guaranteed fundraiser.
Both sides have seen their international schedules derailed by the pandemic - the All Blacks were due to host Scotland and Wales next month, while the Kangaroos tour of Great Britain last this year has already been cancelled.
While the All Blacks and Kangaroos are undoubtedly the powerhouse national teams in their respective codes, ironically neither currently top their respective world rankings.
After finishing third at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand are second, behind champions South Africa, while Australia languish behind NZ Kiwis in league standings, after losing to Tonga last year.
