There is a growing campaign in New Zealand for the All Blacks to tour the Pacific.

Despite its mass regional following, New Zealand's rugby union team has never toured the islands.

This is in contrast to other top playing nations such as England, Wales and now, Italy.

The International Rugby Board backs the idea, as do many past and present players, including All Black great Bryan Williams.

New Zealand's Opposition Labour Party has also joined the push, calling on the government in Wellington to help facilitate a regional tour.

"It's the right thing to do considering the number of players that enhances the All Black brand, a considerable number come from the Pacific, " Opposition spokesman on Pacific Islands Affairs Su'a William Sio told Pacific Beat.

'Considerable constraints'

The head of the International Rugby Board, Brett Gosper, said recently that while it was the local New Zealand Rugby Union's decision, the world body would "love to see the All Blacks play in the Pacific, in Samoa, or anywhere else in that region".

The New Zealand Rugby Union has spoken of its desire to play a test in the Pacific, especially Samoa.

But it has also identified "considerable constraints" to any tour and no time frame has been set.

Mr Sio says whatever the obstacles to playing in the Pacific, many other top rugby nations have managed to mount tours of the region.

"The constraints that have been identified by the New Zealand rugby union have to do with monetary constraints, with media constraints.

"They also had a term in there about protecting the All Blacks winning brand, and I'm not sure what that really means. "

Support for an All Blacks tour of the Pacific has also been voiced by the head coach of Fiji's national side, New Zealander John McKee.

Mr McKee says it is "very disappointing" that the region's top teams rarely play against Pacific nations "unless we actually play them in a World Cup".

"They have obviously go a lot of commercial commitments around television and agreements with northern tier one unions over the June-November tests, but to me it's disappointing," he said.

Sponsorship available

Earlier this month, Mr Sio accompanied Prime Minister John Key on a trip to Samoa to celebrate the island's Independence Day.

He says while Mr Key has been non-committal on supporting an All Blacks tour, there is a place for official involvement.

"I think there's a role that the government can play by facilitating that, by encouraging that, government sponsors a lot of sports, we've been a major sponsor of the American World Cup and numerous other sports," he said .

"I don't see why this government doesn't play a role in facilitating the All Blacks playing in Samoa or any other part of the Pacific."

Mr Sio says he even asked the prime minister if he was prepared to sign a petition for the All Blacks to play in Samoa.

"He sort of fidgeted and screwed his face on that one, and he said initially that that game was going to happen, but when the media did press him when we arrived in Samoa, he backtracked on that."

On the issue of potential sponsors for any tour, Mr Sio says the commercial backing is there, including from a number of key telecommunication organisations.

"Their issue of course is timing and is New Zealand serious about coming to the Pacific before they make any commitments," he said.

"The ball is in the New Zealand Rugby Union's court at the moment, I think for governments of the Pacific there are potential sponsors, they certainly are willing."

