The 2020 Rugby Championship will be played in Australia, but a number of new positive COVID-19 cases amongst Argentinian players and coaches threatens to derail the tournament.
New Zealand was initially touted as SANZAAR’s preferred host country for the tournament, with a hub for all four teams in Queenstown a proposed option, but better commercial modelling and a second wave of coronavirus in Auckland has led to the six-week competition being played in Australia instead.
However, the Wallabies will still need to make the trip across the ditch for the opening two Bledisloe Cup matches of the year, to be played in October before they and the All Blacks make the return trip for the start of the Rugby Championship.
The six-week tournament will be played in New South Wales, with the exception of one round – likely to include an Australia versus New Zealand fixture – in Queensland. Specific dates, times and venues for all of the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup will be announced in the coming weeks, however one of the Bledisloe fixtures in New Zealand is expected to be played on October 24, the same day as the AFL grand final.
While there are concerns in South Africa about the Springboks’ lack of match practice compared to the All Blacks and Wallabies, they’re not the only team with a major hurdle to overcome before participating in the tournament, after Argentina coach Mario Ledesma and a number of players returned positive tests for COVID-19 last week.
Ledesma and his assistants, Nicolas Fernandez Miranda and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, all tested positive for the virus, as did players Felipe Ezcurra, Matias Moroni, Tomas Cubelli, Matias Orlando and Mateo Carreras. According to a statement from the Pumas, all eight are asymptomatic.
South Africa’s participation is yet to be confirmed, and is reliant on Springboks players having an opportunity to get some gametime under their belts before the tournament.
“The progress and impact on of the pandemic has varied from country to country and international sporting competition is currently suspended in South Africa,” SAZAAR CEO Andy Marinos said.
“The Springboks’ participation will be dependent on the relaxation of that suspension as well as overcoming a number of other logistical challenges including the opening of international air borders. South Africa is only expected to return to competitive play next month, leaving a relatively short time to prepare.”
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, we went from having 5 world class locks to one.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
I agree Busted. TWAS is right. Everyone coming into Queensland (I live there to) has to go into quarantine. But there is a public perception that the government is giving preferential treatment or exemptions to people like sportspeople, celebrities, and those who can generate an economic return for the State. Also ordinary people have to go into self paid quarantine while others can do it at home in much better conditions. The problem isn't so much going into quarantine as the inability of the government to explain its position very well. The right wing press up here is giving them a flogging. And the government is apparently getting very worried about its chances at the election on 31st October.
looks like Newcastle is in line for a game day...
yeah the Lions tours are a bit unique in the sense that they have to be given so many tickets for their supporters. In the last Lions tour in NZ their supporters outnumbered Kiwi supporters and the whole "home ground" thing isnt true on a Lions tour. Its not so bad at the larger stadiums but 20,000 takes up more than 50% at a lot of NZ stadiums
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Peter, wait until daylight savings kicks in next month! :-)
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
agreed, Jacko.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Accepting the need now for Aust to host the tournament, MW7, the NSW and Qld cases are slowly growing. According to NZ health ministry figures, it's stabilised somewhat. ABs will be flying into a more predictable health situation and asked to stay there for 10 weeks.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
BG100, remember last summer? Experts are saying to expect more of that. Granted I live in Fair North Qld but I can feel the heat returning. Days, and nights, are starting to warm up.
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
Look, if the Leaguies can behave then anyone can!
rebel
Roar Guru
A 400 person cluster is massive and increased risk of death, as well as potential for outbreaks. Everyone else in quarantine are confined to their rooms. This resort isn't quarantine.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
I suggest that it be held in Melbourne.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Rant time -- yeah! 1. Quarantine: NZ Rugby came out and said it; NZ quarantine was a big factor although I'd throw in facilities over here (Aust) as well given that revenue should be shared equally four-ways. If Argentina (and maybe RSA) decide to come, that will test Australian quarantine and to date they've had two big fails. 2. Rugby Australia; if they're not dirt broke by now, they will soon be. By the close of Friday, RA had no EOIs in broadcast rights for 2021 although they're still talking to Fox! Money wise, next year looks grimmer for the RA mob. They need all the friends they can get; time to play nice-nicey with the Shaky Isles? Sounds like McLennan is already doing it. 3. NZ Rugby: Hopefully, in a week or two, NZ will allow crowds back into M10 games and generate much-needed, lower level cash flow; the women are also playing. But this episode highlights the brutal reality of NZ's economic handicap and asks the question: can SANZAAR be called a partnership if one of the "partners" remains the perpetual best man, and not the groom? NZ Rugby has plenty of soul-searching to do (like the others but for very different reasons). 4. Aussie weather: Games to play into December here in Aussie? Really? Hands up anyone who remembered the weather here last year? That's right; that wasn't any! Just smoke and fire! And the bushfires have started already this time. Kiwis teams playing in the Ballymore 10s had problems with the heat at a time when the country was cooling down. Uh oh!
Micko
Roar Rookie
Doesn't bother me Jacko. Just making the point that with the number of you here, it's a major difference between games here and games in NZ, where the crowds would be virtually all kiwis. You might see a couple of dozen wallabies shirts in the crowd at Eden Park if you're lucky. I remember a Lions game at the Gabba around 20 years ago where the Lions fans actually outnumbered aussie fans. After that they made a point to limit the numbers so at least it could at least feel like a home game.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I don't blame the NZ government. I'm sick of forking out for entitled sports bodies.
bg100
Guest
We are going into a La Nina event - should be plenty of rain events to soften grounds up! And keep max temps down.
bg100
Guest
But if the cluster doesn't go anywhere it won't spread to the rest of the community. The players are taken directly to the grounds - no mixing with the outside world = low risk. It's players getting out into the community, like the two Richmond AFL players on the GC last week, before quarantine is over which presents the bigger risk.
bg100
Guest
Whilst the climate may be "better" in NZ don't forget the 2003 WC was played at the same time so it's not unusual to have lots of rugby played in late spring. We are also meant to be going into a strong La Nina event which means lower max temperatures, more rain etc.
bg100
Guest
The games aren't being held in Victoria - take them out of the equation and your remove 90% of the cases!
here is more adding to that https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/122749708/all-blacks-players-could-opt-to-miss-rugby-championship-for-family-reasons
Clearly not enough Terry