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South Africa captain Siya Kolisi celebrates after winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final between South Africa and Wales at Yokohama International Stadium in Yokohama City, Japan, October 27, 2019. EPA-EFE / MARK R. CRISTINO FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY / NON-COMMERCIAL SALES / NOT USED IN ASSOCIATION WITH ANY COMMERCIAL ENTITY
The Rugby Championship will take place in November and December 2020 in Australia, but it seems increasingly unlikely that the Springboks will be a part of it.
The 2020 Rugby Championship, instead of being played in New Zealand, will now be played in Australia between November 7 and December 12, 2020, confirmed on Friday South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby (Sanzaar).
Sanzaar made the decision to move its truncated flagship tournament across the Tasman Sea due to Australia’s more relaxed Covid-19 policies.
New Zealand had been scheduled to host the tournament in a “bio-bubble” environment, but its strict quarantine measures made it unfeasible. Australia has fewer restrictions for what will be a logistically challenging business anyway.
While Sanzaar slapped himself on the back for finalizing the Rugby Championship dates and venue, actually organizing the tournament will still be a challenge. Especially since it is increasingly unlikely that world champions Springboks will play due to the continued blocking restrictions in South Africa, while most of the Argentine team plays in Europe. Both situations pose problems.
“We are delighted that Sanzaar is finally able to confirm the participants and the host country of the Rugby Championship and put an end to continued speculation about the format and location of the tournaments,” Sanzaar CEO Andy Marinos said in a statement. .
“Traditionally, the Rugby Championship is played as an international cross-border series of home and away matches between Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, but due to the pandemic this is obviously not possible this year.
“So we’ve worked very hard as a group to make sure it takes place this year, albeit in one country, and Sanzaar was meticulous in evaluating the two accommodation options presented to him by New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia.
“Sanzaar finally determined that, according to the quarantine protocols required by the government [for entry and training prior to the tournament] ”
But South Africa and Argentina are so far behind New Zealand and Australia in their preparations that playing the All Blacks and Wallabies could pose a serious injury risk for many players.
SA Rugby could not confirm their participation while the ban on international sporting activity in South Africa was maintained. The mother’s body also said that there were other high performance and player wellness issues to consider.
CEO Jurie Roux noted that New Zealand resumed the game three months ago, while Australia had been in action for 10 weeks. By contrast, South African players only resumed contact training two weeks ago.
“We are pleased that the venue has been confirmed and would like to congratulate Sanzaar and Rugby Australia for their work behind the scenes to make it possible,” said Roux.
“We are very excited to see the Springboks play again, but there are still some hurdles to overcome and we will address them in the coming weeks.”
The main reason SA Rugby wants the Boks to defend their rugby championship title is the windfall of the R300 million broadcast rights it would bring to the troubled rugby industry. In early 2020, SA Rugby announced a series of measures to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the industry when all competitions were suspended.
In the worst case, SA Rugby budgeted cuts of 1.2 billion rand in 2020, but was optimistic that a national Currie Cup and Rugby Championship could be held, which would ease the pain.
But despite numerous submissions to the sports ministry and Minister Nathi Mthethwa, the department has not given rugby the green light to resume competition despite allowing football to complete its season over the past month.
It’s a frustrating and devastating time for rugby, and as players return to contact training under Level 2 Covid-19 lockout regulations, the sport requires Mthethwa to formally announce that it can resume competitions.
Mthethwa’s continued delay in giving the go-ahead makes little sense. SA Rugby was compliant with all Covid-19 protocols and when the ministry allowed rugby teams to return to training in early August, there was optimism that the local Currie Cup would start in early September.
Yet five weeks later, Mthethwa has remained silent and rugby is sinking further into financial ruin. SA Rugby has now planned a restart of competitions in early October 2020, but the window for that to be feasible is also rapidly closing.
“The participation of the Springboks will depend on relaxing that suspension, as well as overcoming a number of other logistical challenges, including the opening of international air borders,” Marinos said.
South Africa is only expected to return to competitive play next month. [October], leaving a relatively short time to prepare. Sanzaar is now working on refining detailed planning with Rugby Australia and we look forward to announcing match venues, match dates and kick-off times in the very near future.
“We are aware of the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic environment continues to change and present obstacles, but we are confident that our plans are robust and naturally we incorporate contingency measures to accommodate any further changes.” DM
