[ad_1]
Things
Conrad Smith breaks through Fiji’s defense during the All Blacks’ last test against Fiji in 2011.
The All Blacks will kick off a 2021 year by hosting Fiji in the first meeting between the two nations in more than a decade, if Covid-19 allows.
Chief Executive Mark Robinson confirmed most of the All Blacks’ international schedule in 2021 at a press conference in Wellington on Thursday, but said there were two additional games in the works by the end of next year.
The All Blacks played just six games in 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but they could play as many as 15 next year.
SKY SPORTS
All Blacks coach Ian Foster reviews the season with the guys from Sky’s ‘The Breakdown’.
Robinson said the All Blacks will host Fiji and Italy (twice) in July before taking on traditional Rugby Championship rivals Argentina, Australia and South Africa.
READ MORE:
* New Zealand Rugby needs more time to decide the future of the Miter 10 Cup
* All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan goes from rugby coach to digital mental health coach.
* All Blacks coach Ian Foster ‘satisfied’ with the year, points to key improvements for ’21
The All Blacks have not played against Fiji since their 60-14 win at Dunedin’s Carisbrook Stadium in 2011.
“We think World Rugby will probably indicate if those matches where the Northern Hemisphere teams come to the South will probably be held in late February or early March, so it will probably give you an indication of the timelines that we will be working on. the Rugby Championship ”
The All Blacks were scheduled to complete 2021 with trials against Italy, Ireland and France, but Robinson said the NZR is eager to secure two additional matches against opposition from the northern hemisphere.
“The All Blacks schedule for 2021 is starting to take shape. We are looking to host, dependent on Covid, Italy and Fiji in July, ”said Robinson. “We are also working with Sanzaar at this time in hopes of finalizing the Rugby Championship schedule as well as the Bledisloe Cup and a third Bledisloe for next year.
“We are also looking for opportunities to play games outside of our regulation 9 [international] window in November. At the moment, we are going to play against Italy, Ireland and France in those three weeks, but we are seeing matches on both shoulders of that match list in November or possibly two matches before our first match in Europe against Italy. “
Brendon Thorne / Getty Images
All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke throws himself in to score against Los Pumas during this year’s Tri-Nations.
Robinson said countries from Asia and North America, as well as Europe, are being considered.
“We have a relatively new group of All Blacks coming together and they’ve had a very truncated schedule this year, so we want to provide opportunities for them to play. Obviously there are financial considerations that go into these decisions as well, but we have to balance that with the well being of the player.
“There are opportunities in areas like the United States, Asia and the United Kingdom and Europe that we are open to at the moment and we are working very hard on them and making good progress, but again we probably will not announce until we know much more in the first trimester [of the year] or beyond with respect to those accessories. “
Although Robinson said NZ Rugby would “open up” the possibility of hosting the entire Rugby Championship in one country again, after Australia hosted this year’s competition due to travel restrictions, he said the preference was to return to the traditional formal , where the All Blacks would play against the other three nations at home and away. However, that is also allowed by Covid-19.
“We are working on the basis that we hope that by the end of July and in August we will be traveling, and we are working as closely as possible with the government and health officials on the possibilities of what the quarantine could look like, and to have a better idea of what vaccines might be available at that time. “
