Rugby tests between New Zealand and Australia in Sydney have nearly double the economic impact of many other Tri-Nations games, according to a survey that estimates the 2010 Tri-Nations Championship has a $US174.3 million ($NZ241m) economic impact across the Southern Hemisphere.

Research prepared by the Centre for the International Business of Sport Coventry University said 2010 attendance figures have risen to nearly half a million, from 450,000 last year.

The survey estimated a $28m impact on the Sydney economy from a match between Australia and New Zealand, but the Auckland economy only gets an $8m boost from hosting South Africa and Wellington gets $11m.

The Melbourne economy gets a $16m boost from hosting Australia against New Zealand.

The Johannesburg economy gets a $19.6m boost from a match between South Africa and New Zealand, while the Pretoria economy gets a $9.2m boost from hosting Australia.

Inclusion in the competition from 2012 should boost the Argentinean economy by $8m to $12m for each match hosted in the country.