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YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 02: Siya Kolisi, (L) the captain of South Africa, sings the national anthem with his teammate Tendai Mtawarira during the 2019 Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa at the International Stadium of Yokohama on November 02, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by David Rogers / Getty Images)
SA Rugby formally confirmed the withdrawal of the Springboks from the 2020 Rugby Championship in the early hours of Friday.
The Rugby Championship, at least for 2020, is dead. Long live the Three Nations.
The inevitable, but unfortunate, withdrawal of the Springboks from the Rugby Championships, due to concerns about the well-being of the players due to their lack of playing time due to Covid-19 restrictions, meant that the tournament was renamed from overnight.
South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby (Sanzaar) have reverted to the original name, Tri-Nations. That was the nickname of the tournament between 1996-2011, before Argentina joined in 2012. A new schedule has also been established.
Yet for the Bok, who have made it clear for weeks that it was unlikely they were Due to a myriad of problems, it is both a relief and a problem.
It’s a relief because the South African players are simply not in a physical shape to compete with the All Blacks and Wallabies after a six-month lockout. It’s also a problem because it means the Boks won’t be playing a test in 2020 and they’re unlikely to find a window to play before the British & Irish Lions arrive for the 2021 tour next July.
It is also a serious blow to the status of the tournament, as the Boks are the reigning Rugby Championship and World Cup champions.
“Ongoing complications related to the Covid-19 pandemic and concerns about seriously jeopardizing the well-being of players, made it impossible to commit to Sanzaar that South Africa could compete,” said a statement from SA Rugby.
“The South African part of what was a 46-player team was scheduled to fly in from Johannesburg on Sunday. However, government regulations as currently drafted meant that it was unclear whether the team could legally depart. “
The legal issue SA Rugby referred to in the statement centered on the drafting and interpretation of government travel regulations and whether work permits, and not just visas, were needed to travel.
Also, and more pressing, were growing concerns related to the player’s well-being.
“With time essentially running out, he left us no choice,” said CEO Jurie Roux.
“This is a hugely disappointing result for our supporters and business partners, but the continued impacts of the pandemic across multiple dispensations mean that we cannot deliver a Springbok kit without seriously compromising the well-being of the players.
“Sanzaar and Rugby Australia have done everything they can to make the tournament happen and it would have been unfair to them, their partners and the state government to delay a decision any longer.”
Roux said local challenges were compounded by the fact that the 24 foreign-based players, who had been identified for possible selection (based on Covid-19 status) and for whom visas had been applied, were based. in European or Japanese clubs.
“Players in England, Ireland, France and Japan are subject to different local regulations and travel protocols and potentially imminent renewed closures in some territories,” he said.
“It was unclear when they could become active members of the Springbok team in Australia.
“We understand that public safety concerns come first and there is no way we can hope that shortcuts will be found to get them out of their host countries and into the Springbok bubble.
“But the impact on our planning was profound and led us to a conclusion that we couldn’t justly compromise in order to compete.”
SA Rugby consulted with MyPlayers, the players union, who supported the decision.
Rassie Erasmus, director of rugby, said his department had planned for each scenario.
“We found that players needed a minimum of 400 minutes of playing time before they were ready for a test match,” Erasmus said.
“The foreign players had started playing before us and would have approached that time by November 7th.
“But many of them have completed their programs or have had Covid outbreaks that have disrupted planning. Japan-based players have not played any rugby, while home-based players would be well under 400 minutes at kick-off. “
The SA players played their first competitive matches last weekend, 29 weeks after their last competitive match at Super Rugby in March. In contrast, the New Zealand and Australian players played a test match on Saturday, 17 weeks and 14 weeks, respectively, after resuming competitive rugby.
Roux said: “It has been an extremely challenging year and what started as a two-week lockdown turned into a global crisis, one of the side effects of which has been decimating our rugby schedule.
“It seems impossible that the Springboks will not play a test game in 2020, but public health and safety have been the primary concern and we have suffered collateral damage like so many companies.
“All we can do now is enjoy our national competitions and find ways to prepare for the arrival of the British & Irish Lions in 2021.”
Sanzaar CEO Andy Marinos said in a statement: “Sanzaar recognizes the challenges and adversity that national unions have had to face this year due to the pandemic. It is a tribute to the unions for the way they have been able to adapt and, depending on Covid restrictions, organize national competitions with the exception of Argentina, which has been the most affected by its blockade.
“These brief national tournaments, and in the case of Argentina there is no national competition, they are not the normal advantage towards an international window, and although it has been far from ideal preparation, we look forward to an exciting and vibrant Tri Nations tournament.” DM
