[ad_1]
All Blacks v Springboks (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung / Getty Images)
- The Springboks will play in the Rugby Championship until at least 2030, governing body Sanzaar has confirmed.
- The Rugby Championship will now be played in a 12-match mini-tour format with the teams facing each other at home or away.
- It has been speculated that the Boks could abandon the tournament in favor of a move to Europe.
SA Rugby is committed to Rugby championship until 2030, organizing body Sanzaar said on Wednesday, after the absence of the World Cup champions from this year’s edition sparked speculation that they might move to Europe.
The announcement is a boon for the game in the southern hemisphere, after the coronavirus disruption tore apart Super Rugby and left question marks over the ‘flagship’ Rugby Championship.
“The rugby powers of the southern hemisphere have recognized the need for change in these difficult times and are committed to a future of international rugby until 2030.” Sanzaar said in a statement.
However, the “Sanzaar entity” and the national and provincial tournaments will also undergo a “restructuring”, added Sanzaar (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby).
South Africa lifted its third World Cup a year ago in Japan, underscoring the strength of rugby in the southern hemisphere, whose teams have won all but one of the tournament’s nine editions.
The Springboks, who have not played since defeating England in the final in Yokohama, withdrew from the Rugby Championship citing government travel restrictions and concerns about the well-being of the players.
It came after South Africa pulled most of its club teams out of Super Rugby in favor of Europe’s PRO14, following negotiations between New Zealand and Australia over a bilateral competition.
But Sanzaar said the Rugby Championship, renamed the Tri Nations this year and with only New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, will remain intact.
“The Rugby Championship will continue to be the flagship of southern hemisphere rugby for the next decade and, as in the past, will be the key driver and pathway for the continued success of unions at the highest levels of the game, including the Rugby World Cup “. Sanzaar said.
“The members of the Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa joint venture are committed to the Championship and its continued evolution, where future growth and expansion are part of a revised 10-year plan.”
The Rugby Championship will now be played in a 12-match mini-tour format with the teams facing each other at home or away. However, Sanzaar pointed to more changes to come, saying he was at the beginning of a “phased progression process.”
“The new commitment of the four unions to the long-term future of international gaming is an important start as we embark on a new direction for both the unions and the organization in the years to come,” said Andy Marinos, CEO of Sanzaar.
“This is the first in a series of announcements to be made over the next several weeks and months as we continue to plan for 2021 and beyond.”
