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The New Zealand Rugby (NZR) director says the country’s quarantine protocols were a significant factor in losing to Australia in a bid to host the Rugby Championship.
Photo: Photosport
Talking to ControlNZR CEO Mark Robinson said New Zealand’s quarantine protocols were a factor that “meant we couldn’t win the tender.”
Australia will host the Rugby Championship in November and December, although New Zealand will play Australia in two Bledisloe Cup rounds earlier, in October.
Robinson said he would not apportion the blame, but NZR had several conversations with the government about the fact that quarantine protocols were a “critical area” for SANZAAR, which runs the championship.
He said visiting rugby players would have had to isolate themselves individually for three days, then spend another four days in a 15-player bubble before moving on to a 25-player bubble.
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson.
Photo: Photosport
By contrast, rugby players were able to have unrestricted access to training in Australia “from day one”.
“This was a significant difference, especially for teams that travel a lot or with teams that need to prepare quickly.”
In a call to reporters this afternoon, Robinson said that while NZR respected the New Zealand government’s quarantine setting, there was no question that it was part of SANZAAR’s decision to grant the hosting rights to Australia.
“We worked incredibly hard to ease the restrictions around the bubbles. That had a role to play in the decision.”
Sports and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson said the government offered flexible quarantine arrangements that would have allowed players to train after three days of isolation and return a negative test.
He said he had tried to strike a balance between keeping New Zealanders and visitors safe and allowing matches to be played here.
“Given the six recent cases in the Pumas, and with the community outbreaks in Australia and South Africa, it would be risky to go further and allow players to get off the plane and directly into a full team environment.”
SANZAAR highlighted the issue in its statement granting the rights to Australia.
Executive Director Andy Marinos said: “SANZAAR ultimately determined that under government-required quarantine protocols [for entry and training prior to the tournament] and commercial underwriting, the Rugby Australia presentation was the most desirable and viable in terms of tournament logistics for the essential pre-tournament preparation period and the six-week tournament itself. “
SANZAAR stands for South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia Rugby. The Rugby Championship is a tournament that involves all four countries.
Australia will host the six-week, 12-match “home and away” tournament featuring Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, in November and early December.
It will be played primarily in New South Wales with one round in Queensland.
He said there was a “significant economic impact” from not obtaining the host rights for the Rugby Championship.
Robinson said he was sorry for the fans, but also for the business owners who would have benefited from the opportunities offered by hosting the championships. They included bars, hotels, cafes, travel and accommodation companies, stadiums.
He said he expected the Bledisloe games to be played in front of a large crowd if New Zealand could ease the Covid-19 restrictions.
Robinson has yet to reveal the dates of two Bledisloe Cup matches between the All Blacks and Wallabies in October, ahead of the Rugby Championship.
He said one of the games “very possibly could” be played in New Zealand on election weekend.
“That’s a possibility. We have to consider all the options right now. That doesn’t mean it can’t be played on Friday night or Sunday of that weekend,” Robinson said.
The election is Saturday, October 17.
