WELLINGTON, New Zealand - New Zealand will play France at Dunedin and Wellington as part of a schedule of six home rugby tests in 2009, venues for which were announced Tuesday.

The New Zealand Rugby Union released details of mid-year matches against France and Italy and home matches for the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations competition.

The All Blacks will play France at Dunedin on June 13 and Wellington on June 20 and Italy at Christchurch on June 27.

New Zealand's Tri-Nations tests against Australia will be played at Auckland on July 18 and Wellington on September 19 and against South Africa at Hamilton on September 12. The full schedule for the 2009 Tri-Nations competition has yet to be released.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said with stadiums at Auckland and Christchurch undergoing redevelopment, the allocation of 2009 tests was difficult.

"On balance, we thought the right decision was to take test matches to all the main centres," he said.