[ad_1]
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has poured cold water on the All Blacks’ hopes of avoiding Christmas in quarantine after the Rugby Championship, saying the team would be “uncomfortable” if given special treatment.
The All Blacks will be required to be quarantined for 14 days when they return to New Zealand as part of Covid-19 protocols following their final Rugby Championship match on December 12 against Australia in Sydney.
New Zealand Rugby has complained that the tournament organizers backtracked on a deal that the All Blacks would finish a week early. NZR said they were working on solutions to the All Blacks’ dilemma, but Ardern did not offer government assistance on Monday.
“There are others who will not want to be stuck in quarantine for Christmas, but that is just the reality of our process,” Ardern told New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB. “I don `t believe [the All Blacks] they would feel so comfortable with us creating a different regimen for them, because it exists for the same reason. “
Ardern held out some hope that travel restrictions between Australia and New Zealand could be lifted before the end of the year in an interview with state broadcaster TVNZ.
Plans for a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand have been discussed for months, but were cut short after a Covid-19 resurgence in Melbourne, Australia, followed by an outbreak in Auckland.
New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who is a New Zealander, expressed his sympathy for the All Blacks on Sunday.
“I know there is talk of opening a bubble between New South Wales and New Zealand,” he said. “If that comes before Christmas happens, then it won’t be a problem and they can go straight home to their families and that’s what we want.”
