The Springboks have officially withdrawn from the 2020 Rugby Championship, forcing SANZAAR to change the competition to a three-team Tri-Nations with Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.
News broke last night that South Africa were on the verge of announcing their non-participation, and SANZAAR confirmed the reports at midday on Friday.
“Naturally, it is extremely disappointing that the Springboks, due to the continued complexities of operating in and around this COVID environment, cannot fully compete in the previously planned six-round Rugby Championship,” CEO Andy Marinos said.
“That said, this now presents us with a unique opportunity, in this our 25th year, to close off 2020 with a SANZAR Tri-Nations competition.”
South Africa Rugby CEO Jurie Roux trotted out the oft-repeated line about the withdrawal being made for player welfare reasons, while admitting it was a “hugely disappointing outcome”.
“SANZAAR and Rugby Australia have bent over backwards to make the tournament happen and it would have been unfair on them and their partners and state government to delay a decision any longer, Roux said.
“This is a hugely disappointing outcome for supporters and commercial partners but the on-going impacts of the pandemic in multiple dispensations mean we are unable to deliver a Springbok team without seriously compromising player welfare, apart from other logistical challenges.”
With no Springboks, the tournament has halved from a 12-match competition to just six fixtures, a change which will carry considerable financial ramifications for the three remaining nations.
Broadcasters had been sold the Rugby Championship with the promise of six consecutive Saturday evening/night double-headers, and the change in schedule will almost certainly require renegotiation with the networks.
The competition will still commence with the Wallabies versus All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on October 31, but will now finish up a week earlier than originally scheduled, with Australia versus Argentina on December 5 the final match.
Tri-Nations schedule
October 31: Australia v New Zealand (ANZ Stadium, Sydney)
November 7: Australia v New Zealand (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
November 14: New Zealand v Argentina (Bankwest Stadium, Sydney)
November 21: Argentina v Australia (McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle)
November 28: Argentina v New Zealand (McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle)
December 5: Australia v Argentina (Bankwest Stadium, Sydney)
Ex force fan
Guest
Australians and New Zealanders have missed covid-19 and makes the assumption that everyone else lives under similar circumstances. While we are on our island isolated from anything else it is easy to think that South Africa or Europe look the same. It is not. If South Africa was forced to make an early decision they could only make one decision and that was not to come. SANZAAR was working on alternatives but none of them realised as the rest of the world is struggling with similar problems. Japan and Fiji are not playing rugby and none of them could offer in terms of commercial value that the World Cup champions could. The choice SANZAAR made was to give SARU as much time possible. However they started playing rugby about a month too late - and that was a government decision.
Blue
Guest
Unlike those tough, hard Wallabies? Boy, how SA supporters must wish their team was like the Wallabies.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Look mate, I'll be honest, if I don't keep a positive outlook, my depression and anxiety is going to overwhelm me. Sport is giving me an escapism. All the best.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
I'm not a massive tennis fan OOP but I've watched and enjoyed my share, and all those 'champions' over the decades that have stuck most firmly in my mind as champions definitely did both. And the reason they figure in my memory as champions, is precisely because they did both. I think every professional sports person or facilitator understands that deep down.
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
Maybe Neil, but on the other hand - don’t holding the number 1 ranking without winning the World Cup would be seen as sort of illegitimate or less important? I could be wrong as I guess I’m coming at it from more of a tennis background, where most players that reached number 1 but never won a grand slam aren’t really remembered.
KCR
Roar Rookie
From what I have read it failed to get support from the ARL commission, I went to the read the article again but is behind a pay wall now. I definitely had this in mind when suggesting NRL players play for Australia A. Also that it would add some interest to Australia A vs Wallabies game it one were to happen.
KCR
Roar Rookie
Strange comment, I am guessing that you think that Super Rugby is poor be as the Broncos were wooden spooners yeah? But if everyone in super Rugby was last on the ladder then no one was last, would make just as much sense to say play the Panthers as they've played like a Super Rugby Club all season. Except that it wouldn't make sense as Super Rugby is provincial and TRC is an international tournament so you would a stronger than super Rugby standard team to be competitive. I hope that cleared things up for you, unless as I said the only reason you posted was to say that you don't like super Rugby, then the real question is why post at all, but that is one for you to internalize I suppose.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
On the other side, Northampton were obliged to forfeit their last match against Gloucester with 3 positives in the group based on them having played the week before against Sale where the virus was running rampant. I think we’re heading for a second lockdown and just can’t get positive about the Autumn internationals
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Noted. I spoke to my in laws in SA about this and none made the point that the government stopped them going. It changes my view if so
Stone
Roar Rookie
What is ignored is that the SA govt decided when (contact) sport could resume in the republic, and no-one knew when that would be. ... All negotiations were done in good faith that sport would be allowed to resume sooner. ... AND, govt has STILL NOT granted sport travel release. ... It is actually the only decision that could (reluctantly) be made. So have a good look around and behold the world has not ended! :-) There will be many chances to bliksem the boks in the future, the franchises may have moved north, but the boks will never leave the RC. We just love our southern cousins too much. ... If you still find yourself bitterly unhappy, then really, all I can suggest is you maybe consider following netball, and give perspective a chance.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Whatever happened to that Kangaroos-All Blacks match?
Stone
Roar Rookie
Ummm … who exactly is SARFU? ‘Another team’? Are you talking international rugby … or tiddlywinks? ‘left it so late’? How much time did you need to quickly round up a spare team? Japan perhaps? They’ve played even less rugby than the Saffers. I thought SANZAAR was the responsible body and last I looked they set the deadline within which ZA answered. By your standards Sanzaar is culpable. And ZA gov’t have not granted release for sports teams to travel – what’s to do? Your outbursts sound more testy than level-headed. Relax PeterK, your wallabies are starting to look great again, you will get plenty chances to see them take on the Boks
The point of that article is NZRU still wants to play SA, you suggest if SA gets invited, the obstacles at this time is semantics, you pointed to the intent of whether they will invite SA, and the answer to that question is yes.
It is undeniable, however, that South Africa’s participation in the Pro 14 tournament would present a set of complex challenges for the Springboks, and “player welfare” could again become an issue. The Pro 14 starts around the same time as the current Rugby Championship window, and runs until May. That means the Springboks would get little or no preparation time for The Rugby Championship, miss a significant chunk of the start of the Pro 14, and play for 10 months a year, if the July test window remains in place. These are hardly words that inspire belief are they. NZR may well believe it to be the case but its looking uncertain at best.
OK Jacko. Whatever you say.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Cheers Pinetree. And thanks for the feedback. As long as rugby players continue to have interesting hairstyles, I'll start remembering a few of them :laughing:
based on the info in that it looks like it going to be impossible for SARU to still be involved in the RC. All the NH players will be starting their club games around the same time as the RC and “Player welfare” gets a mention already… That article hardly fills me with any confidence and I would say NZR is dreaming if they believe this…..
Yup, Peterk has chosen a narrative and is sticking by it come hell or high water
That one eye of yours is truly something special :thumbup:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300134594/nz-rugby-insists-the-rugby-championship-is-not-heading-for-extinction