New Zealand Rugby is disputing a leaked document which appears to show it had advance knowledge of the Rugby Championship schedule that has become the latest flashpoint in a fraught relationship with its SANZAAR partners.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has said the relationship with New Zealand is at its “lowest ebb” after a recent series of disagreements.
The relationship suffered further damage when southern hemisphere governing body SANZAAR released a schedule for the Rugby Championship in Australia which sees the All Blacks playing their last match against the Wallabies on December 12.
That means the All Blacks, who have to spend 14 days in managed isolation on their return home, will still be in quarantine on Christmas Day.
NZ Rugby has repeatedly said it believed it had an agreement with Australia and SANZAAR that the All Blacks would play six Tests over five weeks, with their last match on December 5.
But the minutes of a SANZAAR chief executives meeting, obtained by news organisations in Australia and New Zealand, appear to show the Kiwisagreed to the six-week schedule and a December 12 final match.
New Zealand also appeared to agree to the release of the schedule on September 24, after which it claimed to have been “blindsided” by the release and December 12 date.
NZR chief executive Mark Robinson insisted in media interviews that his organisation had not signed off on the schedule.
“We didn’t agree to the schedule and don’t agree to the schedule. Or the announcement,” Robinson said.
“Ordinarily, under SANZAAR joint venture that means things aren’t decided or announced until there is unanimous support for anything such as this.
“All I would say is that in any forum we have been in, there has been no agreement to play in the tournament on December 12 at any time and at any meeting.
“We have been very clear around that and any correspondence on our end. “That’s something we have been very consistent with.”
RedWallaby
Roar Rookie
:thumbdown:
Thats BS.....at 2-2 that would require a Chairmans vote breaker and that was 100% not required and the Aus ceo said they voted for the dates that Saanzar anounced so sorry but that is wrong...remember the Aus CEO is also STATING that NZ also voted for those dates so its absolutely impossible that it was 2-2....Aus ceo says NZ agreed so he is saying it was 4-0....As we know he's a liar tho so I say 3-1 and thats what Marinos said...
RedWallaby
Roar Rookie
The 3-1 was Aust voted for the 5 weeks, when NZ were hosting. NZ, SA And Arg votes no. When tournament was shifted to Aust. It was reported as a 2-2 vote. NZ and Australia supporting them.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
No signed minutes. No agreement.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Show me the minutes with Robinson’s signature on them. Or shut the f up.
John Pratt
Guest
ABs could play any of their provincial sides and still have a harder match than Australia’s privileged boys will provide. Why persist with this Championship debacle?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Micko
Roar Rookie
:shocked:
I thinks these “minutes” have now turned to “hours” :laughing:
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
Yep and Roberson lost all integrity with the direct approaches to oz state unions. Who the heck does that? NZRU under Impey and Robertson are behaving like some 3rd world corrupt and morally bankrupt rugby organisation.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
What’s that got to do with RA lying/misrepresenting about the agreed schedule and the ‘minutes’?
jeznez
Roar Guru
We should really just be asking the Crusaders, Blues and Hurricanes to join an RA comp. Don't worry about saying something were board minutes, go all in!
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
You must be employed by NZRU Jacko as you follow their current strategy to ignore everyone including their own nz players association, partners and feel nzru is entitled to do what it likes and behave how it like. NZRU are becoming the embarrassment of world rugby and doing untold damage with their shady super rugby kingmaker plans. NZRU could employ the khu klux clan as their advisors and you would be on here defending them as this being a great idea. If you can’t see that Brent Impey and Mark Robertson needs to go I pity you. They are poisonous to the harmonious state of positive rugby relationships in the Southern Hemisphere and need to go.
yet the way they try to sort that out is with insults and lies...Go RA...What a genius....Now its time to wonder why Mr Forrest is not jumping in behind the RA....
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Hamish McLennan said on tv before this was leaked that Aus voted for Dec 5th finish, is he saying different now? How was resolution passed if NZ and Aus against and SA and Arg were for it. And before anyone calls me out have a look at Hamish on NZ Breakdown last week. He did say it was passed , but then said Aus voted for shortened comp! So I a bit confused.
Bing, no one believes you. You are in a complete state of denialism.
Rugbynutter you are not getting all the press hammering the point that on basic facts known on Aus super rugby expansion plans there has been a major failure of governance, diplomacy, stakeholder and partner management and basic acting in the best interest of rugby in the region 10 captains and Mclemon need to fall on their sword and resign or be removed as they have shown to be not fit to hold office.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Some people are showing pivots that even Trump would be proud of. Now the lies and deception are obvious, well it never mattered anyway did it? Hypocrisy is rampant.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Humility? Apology? The level of emotional vitriol and hyperbolic rhetoric is a hard line to walk back. I doubt any who jumped on the hate bandwagon will admit fault. Quite the contrary actually. Although I will be happy to be proven wrong though.
Bing
Guest
Jacko, no one believes you. You are in a complete state of denialism.