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A day after an announcement by Sanzaar that she was expected to hand over the Rugby Championship to Australia, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has indicated that the Government would not be entirely at fault if that happened.
A report from across Tasmania on Wednesday said Australia could snatch the Rugby Championship from New Zealand due to quarantine conditions and superior commercial modeling.
“My take is that there are ways that we can meet our needs, which is to make sure it’s done safely,” Ardern said in Taupo on Thursday.
“But I would say that those are not the only two factors at play. There are a lot of business questions, broadcast issues and so on. There’s a lot in the mix, but I certainly think we’re doing what we can to take it very seriously.”
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MARK TAYLOR / Waikato Times
Jacinda Ardern visits Taupo with Mayor David Trewavas and local MP Tamati Coffey.
Earlier in the day, Health Minister Chris Hipkins said there is still “a lot to do.”
On Monday, Ardern had said that the major international rugby series in New Zealand were a “real possibility” before the end of the year, despite Covid restrictions.
No comment was made from the New Zealand Government or Rugby on Wednesday, and Hipkins was the first to visit the issue, saying teams were working on issues as quickly as possible.
He told reporters at the daily coronavirus briefing that there were questions about how Rugby Championship teams could train in isolation and what kind of “bubble” would be used for teams.
“They need to be able to continue training during their isolation period, so the type of bubble fixes you would put in is one of the details that is currently being worked on.”
Health professionals had to make sure the protections were as robust as possible, Hipkins said.
Paul Kane / Getty Images
The Wallabies could soon be celebrating home advantage for The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup tryouts.
“Teams in that situation would do everything they can to make sure everyone has negative tests,” he said.
New Zealand Rugby wants to host the tournament in November and December. Contested by Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, fears are mounting that Covid government restrictions could hamper the event.
Doubts were raised about New Zealand’s ability to provide enough hotels in the same location to provide large visiting teams with sufficient training facilities while in two-week quarantine periods, an important factor given South Africa’s lack of rugby and Argentina this year.
Queensland and New South Wales have been touted as venues, as the New Zealand government has not been charged to welcome visiting teams for rugby tryouts, while navigating a second wave of coronavirus cases.
Bledisloe Cup matches are likely to take place on both sides of the ditch, the Sydney Morning Herald reported, but it is the participation of South Africa and Argentina that is turning into a logistical nightmare for the organizers, who need to make a decision. earlier than later.
James Worsfold / Getty Images
Rugby Australia could be poised for a big win over New Zealand Rugby if they get the go-ahead to host all the matches in 2020.
The executive directors of the Sanzaar member unions will participate in a telephone conversation late Thursday night to discuss the various options and make concrete plans.
NZ Rugby had provided options to Chief Health Officer Ashley Bloomfield, but so far none had been approved. Hipkins said he was aware of those discussions.
“There is a good degree of goodwill, but there is a lot to work on,” Hipkins said. Quarantine measures had to be “strong enough.”
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Health Minister Chris Hipkins: “There is a good degree of goodwill.”
Hipkins said any decision would be up to other ministers “but there have certainly been some very good and solid discussions.”
New Zealand had been in the box to host the Rugby Championship, in which Australia, South Africa and Argentina will come together in a hub and play matches over a six-week period to meet broadcast commitments.
Sanzaar confirmed in mid-July that New Zealand was the preferred host due to “Covid stability in the region,” but then a month later community transmission returned through the outbreak, dubbed the Auckland August cluster.
All Black legend Sir John Kirwan on Wednesday demanded that New Zealand’s Rugby and Sports Minister Grant Robertson show some transparency about the options for the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship.
Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult said the city had been working to accommodate all visiting sides.
“The intention was to isolate them in three different hotels, taking over the entire hotel,” he said.
“They require around 70 rooms per team, and as you can well imagine, we are not short of hotel rooms today.
“So it was my understanding that the intention was for the teams to be isolated on arrival at the entrance to New Zealand, brought here on a chartered flight and then isolated at the hotel for the required period before they could start playing.”
