New Zealand are looking to co-host this year’s Rugby Championship with a southern hemisphere partner, but South Africa have ruled themselves out and Australia want to go it alone.
Last year’s Rugby Championship was held entirely in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic although it was rebranded the “Tri-Nations” after world champions South Africa pulled out.
South Africa, who are scheduled to host the British and Irish Lions tour in July-August, do not want to be involved in co-hosting the four-nation Rugby Championship, NZR boss Mark Robinson told reporters in Wellington.
“At this stage, they have signalled that they don’t wish to host the Rugby Championship this year,” he said.
“Our view at the moment is there may be a great opportunity to do a co-hosting format.
“We’ve got games the All Blacks are involved in we’d love to host in New Zealand, so that’ll be something we’re working towards.
“But ultimately that’s a decision for SANZAAR to make with the feedback of its joint venture partners.”
Australia have already said they are pushing to host the entire Championship, which is likely to be staged in September-October.
Robinson said New Zealand was focused on hosting the 100th match against the Springboks, 100 years on from their first clash in Dunedin in 1921.
He added RNZ would wait another two to three weeks before making a decision on whether to push on with the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition with Australia’s teams.
The five-week tournament is scheduled to start on May 14 in Dunedin but quarantine requirements in New Zealand for travellers from Australia could make it untenable.
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said earlier this month the country was close to allowing Australians to visit without quarantining on arrival.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Ridiculous government??? How dare they succeed in keeping their citizens safe!
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Andy S, there are more important things than marking the NZ-Boks centenary at the moment.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
still spread it though....
P2R2
Roar Rookie
why....QLD got a community spread at the moment...can you guarantee it at the time of the RC???
El Flash
Roar Rookie
Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't the Rugby Championship also incorporate the Bledisloe Cup ? If that be the case it makes sense for RA to try & snaffle all games as it is about the only way they are going to get their hands on that cup !! FORGET IT !!
No that was wrong...Apparently the so called "house party" was actually 5 housemates gathering for testing.....It started in Brisbane because of a DR and a Nurse becoming infected at the PA hospital and the Nurse went to Byron and a friend of the Nurse was a male stripper or somethiung similar
AndyS
Guest
I'd agree, but that may come at a cost. Depending on how Arg and SA feel about all the quarantine and associated disadvantage, that cost may be home games in the RC and the chance to celebrate the centenary.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
TF FF, that bubble is in danger of bursting thanks to Queensland's cases. 26 covid deaths in NZ compared to Australia's 900+ related deaths. And the Australian government never saw fit to consider the bubble when they deported those criminals back to NZ: Kiwi politicians have some not-so-sweet words to say about the Aussies at the moment.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Hamish McLennan would argue that RA should host this game as they have enough South Africans and Kiwi in Australia to fill out one of their stadiums.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
TJFF, these governments are real. The virus is no joke. NZ, for one, is the envy of many other countries due to the way they managed the pandemic. They have no need to apologise. There can be no exceptions. The virus and mutations came into these countries because of international travellers.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
There's an outbreak in QLD because someone who was supposed to isolate went to a house party.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
And Rugby NZ aren't? They're the ones who can't influence their ridiculous government to create a trans-tasman bubble. The Australian government has approved it.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
The NZ government is a joke. The chances of any australian rugby team bringing in a case of COVID is so remote it's not funny. Why this is even being considered is stupid. How can the champions cup rugby function just fine? How is the champions league football and international football function just fine? The NZ and Australian government need to get real.
Who cares what SAs position is....They had a position last year till that position changed 2 weeks before the Rc so stuff them and stuff their position as it cant be trusted...
SA preferred Aus but forgot to turn up? Dictated a whole bunch of stuff then did the dirty!!!
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
Have NZ host the Boks for the 100th game at least. That is a fair request which should not be denied.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yet again these 3 countries, SA, NZ and Aus can't seem to agree..
Wayne
Roar Rookie
I see we are getting ahead of ourselves and grabbing the bull by the tonsils (again): “At this stage, they have signalled that they don’t wish to host the Rugby Championship this year,” he said. 'Signalled' means diddly squat in reality. Lets wait to find out what SA Rugby 'actually' said & what their 'official position' is!
AndyS
Guest
The RC is tricky, but perhaps the travel bubble might be in place by Sept-Oct. If not in time for the TT however (and they go ahead), the only fair way to go it would be to play all the Australian based games first. Then all ten teams can head over to NZ, sit around in a hotel for two weeks without training, before all hitting the field again on equal footing.
nroko
Roar Rookie
ARG were allowed to train during their quarantine last year in Australia. It was the main reason why SA and ARG preferred Australia over NZ.