HARD FEW WEEKS: Ireland lock Donncha O'Callaghan is tackled by All Black Tana Umaga during the British and Irish Lions' ill-fated tour to NZ in 2005.

New Zealand Rugby won't be budging from an agreement with the British and Irish Lions to stage 10 matches in New Zealand in 2017.

Reports from the United Kingdom have noted the Lions could play a match against the USA Eagles in America en route and suggested the New Zealand itinerary could be reduced by a match to make way for the game in the States.

Nigel Cass, NZ Rugby general manager relationships, planning and operations, said it was too early to state which teams the Lions would play on their tour here but confirmed there was no chance of the itinerary being snipped to cater for the touring squad's earlier commitments in the US.

"We are in the very early stages of planning of a 10-match British and Irish Lions Series in New Zealand in 2017," Cass said.

"As part of this planning we are currently in an early phase of our bid process to identify potential host cities for both the British and Irish Lions Series and All Blacks test matches in New Zealand in 2016 and 2017."

Lions chief executive John Feehan confirmed to The Guardian newspaper they had received a tender from the US to play the match. That would extend the tour to 11 fixtures.

The opposition would be provided by the US Eagles, who met the All Blacks in Chicago last November. The home side were beaten 74-6 but the game was a 61,500 sellout broadcast live by NBC.

Buoyed by the interest generated by the All Blacks fixture, USA Rugby is aiming to create a professional US league – featuring city-based teams – to kick off before the 2019 World Cup. "We're talking to investors," said chief executive Nigel Melville, who toured New Zealand with the Lions in 1983. "We've still got some way to go but it's closer to reality than it ever has been."

Cass said NZ Rugby wouldn't be involved in any discussions about a pre-tour match. The Lions stopped over in Hong Kong for a match when they travelled to Australia in 2013 and the commercial spinoffs were understood to have been considerable.

"While we have a 10-match agreement with the Lions, any fixtures proposed outside that are entirely for the British and Irish Lions to consider," Cass stated.

When the Lions toured New Zealand in 2005 they played 11 matches, including three tests. The All Blacks, coached by Graham Henry and led by Tana Umaga, won the test series 3-0. A New Zealand Maori side also won their match in Hamilton.

Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Wellington, Otago, Southland, Manawatu and Auckland hosted the tourists on that tour.