Rugby: New Zealand Rugby President Brent Impey reveals why Australia won Rugby Championship host rights

The tense negotiations to bring the Rugby Championship to New Zealand were harpooned by the government’s unwillingness to negotiate, with officials making only one concession in nearly three months.

This, and not the “Sanzaar policy” as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern suggested, led to Australia receiving the tournament venue rights, says New Zealand Rugby President Brent Impey.

“This came down to quarantine regulations being too restrictive for the championship,” Impey told the Weekend herald.

“The situation in NSW is that all teams must comply with the 14-day quarantine period, during which they can train at full capacity while in quarantine.

“Tests should be done during and after the quarantine period, as well as daily wellness exams to make sure there are no signs of illness.

“If they appear to be sick, they are isolated and examined, and once a negative result is obtained, they can join the group.”

According to Impey, in all the weeks since July, there was only one concession from the government on quarantine conditions.

Originally, government officials demanded that during the 14 days of lockdown after teams from South Africa, Australia and Argentina arrived in New Zealand, they would never train in groups of more than 15 players.

After several meetings and phone calls, it was finally agreed that in the last six days of the 14 days in quarantine, the size of the training group could be increased from 15 to 25, Impey revealed.

“The New Zealand situation was that on days one to three there had to be individual isolation. Then after a negative test, from day four to seven, 15 bubbles could be formed that can be trained inside the bubble. Then, after a second negative test, they could expand the bubble to 25 from days eight to 14. If there was a negative test, then it was all over.

“That’s what the decision to go to Australia was made from. The difference in quarantine regulations.”

The trickle-down effect of losing the Rugby Championship will deprive venues across the country of the opportunity to host sold-out crowds, while New Zealand hospitality companies can appreciate exactly why the federal and state governments provided financial support to the Australian field to largely organize the six weeks. 12-match tournament in Sydney.

When asked if New Zealand would lose millions by not hosting the Rugby Championship, NZR CEO Mark Robinson said: “The economic impact is a little bigger than that of a tournament of this type. There are many business owners. that we certainly feel in the moment.

“It was a way that we felt that rugby could put a lot of smiles on faces and improve the mood of the country, but also so that the bars, cafes, hotels were full, so that people would travel to the centers to see these games.

“All those things that we were hoping we could see happen, but it won’t.”

NZR would still receive revenue from ticket sales, Rugby Australia Acting Chief Executive Rob Clarke confirmed last night.

“The way Sanzaar has approached this is very much an ‘all in the middle’ where all expenses will be combined and all income will be combined,” Clarke said.

“The profit sharing will be split evenly among the Sanzaar partners. It’s a very fair approach. I think it incentivizes everyone to make it more successful.”

– Additional reporting Liam Napier