Rugby: Hit for New Zealand as Australia wins Rugby Championship

Australia is expected to be announced as the host for this year’s Rugby Championship.

The Herald has been told that New South Wales has pinched New Zealand’s four-nation tournament and will be held from November 7.

Sanzaar will make an official announcement on Friday afternoon.

Australia is believed to have secured the tournament on the basis of having higher quarantine regulations in regards to allowing teams to train while in isolation.

Australian federal and state governments are also believed to have dared to move the tournament away from New Zealand.

After three months of detailed planning difficulties, negotiating with the New Zealand government over strict quarantine regulations for visiting teams had left NZ Rugby frustrated.

The Herald had previously been told that if Australia hosts the Rugby Championship, the first two matches of the Bledisloe Cup will be delayed by a week and will be played on October 17 and 24, probably in Auckland and Wellington.

The All Blacks would then venture to Australia for the Rugby Championship.

– more to come