Rugby: Quarantine rules in place to force key All Blacks out of the Rugby Championship

By RNZ’s Joe Porter

The All Blacks could be forced to bring several top five rookies to Australia for the Rugby Championship, and several of New Zealand’s best players are unwilling to go.

RNZ understands that a group of players have already told New Zealand Rugby that they do not want to leave their young families for up to ten weeks, which would likely include spending Christmas in quarantine upon their return.

Those players include Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett, the top five.

Mo’unga and his wife recently had their first child, while Barrett will become a father for the first time in the next month.

Running back TJ Perenara, who has a newborn baby, wants to stay in New Zealand, which could leave All Blacks coach Ian Foster with a huge void to fill the role of playmaker.

Winger Sevu Reece and his partner will also have their first child next month and several other players with young children are also reluctant to cross Tasmania, meaning it could be a very weak All Blacks team taking on the Rugby Championship. .

Last week SANZAAR ruled that Australia will host the Rugby Championship in November and December with New Zealand as it will play Australia in two Bledisloe Cup rounds earlier, in October.

SANZAAR made it clear that the reason the tournament went to Australia was due to quarantine protocols.

Executive Director Andy Marinos said in a statement: “SANZAAR ultimately determined that, based on government-required quarantine protocols [for entry and training prior to the tournament] and commercial underwriting, the Rugby Australia presentation was the most desirable and viable in terms of tournament logistics for the essential pre-tournament preparation period and the six-week tournament itself. “

Australia will host the six-week, 12-match “home and away” tournament featuring Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, in November and early December.

It will be played primarily in New South Wales with one round in Queensland.

– RNZ