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SYDNEY (AP) – World champion South Africa withdrew from the Rugby Championship on Friday due to complications from the coronavirus, making the Southern Hemisphere tournament a disaster.
The Springboks, who have not played since winning the World Cup for the third time in Japan last year, cited government travel restrictions, player welfare and safety concerns for their retirement.
It means the competition in Australia on October 31 will be reduced from 12 games to six, involving just Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.
“This is a hugely disappointing result for fans and business partners,” said South African Rugby Chief Jurie Roux.
READ: Springboks delay decision on Rugby Championship participation
“But the ongoing impacts of the pandemic across multiple dispensations mean that we cannot deliver a Springbok kit without seriously compromising the well-being of the player, aside from other logistical challenges.
While New Zealand resumed rugby last June and Australia shortly thereafter, COVID-19 forced a longer shutdown in South Africa with Springboks players facing the prospect of traveling to Australia with just 80 minutes of playing time under their belt.
Coach Jacques Nienaber wanted about 500 minutes.
There were suggestions that they could be replaced by a Barbarians or Australia A team to ensure that the four-team draw remained intact, but the organizers chose not to, and the tournament reverted to its old Tri-Nations format.
READ: Rugby Championship decision looming for Springboks
The Wallabies will meet the All Blacks in Sydney on October 31 to kick off the event and then again on November 7 in Brisbane before both teams take turns playing Argentina in the following weeks.
The tournament was originally scheduled to start in August until the pandemic forced a postponement.
Then it was supposed to feature six consecutive double titles through November and early December.
The Springboks, who defeated England in the World Cup final last November, now face the prospect of not playing a rugby match until they host the British and Irish Lions in Soweto next July.
READ: Erasmus says it can be dangerous for Springboks to play
There will also be a considerable financial hit with SA Rugby losing a reported R300 million for not participating.
The governing body had to cut R1.2 million from the 2020 budget after the coronavirus pandemic brought rugby to a halt in South Africa last March.
SA Rugby suffered losses in 2016 and 2017 before making small gains in the next two years.
