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The Rugby Championship has lost to the World Cup winning Springboks.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The tournament’s governing body, Sanzaar, has confirmed that the South Africans will not travel to Australia for the competition.
The Spingboks had to leave for Australia this weekend to meet their quarantine requirements in time, and Sanzaar’s statement on Friday said there were several factors behind the decision.
“[Due to] The South African government’s travel restrictions, concerns for the welfare and safety of players, and the continuing effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on South African players both in South Africa and at its various clubs in the UK and Europe, the Springboks. they will remain in South Africa. “
The tournament will revert to its original Tri-Nations format, with the All Blacks, Wallabies and Argentina playing each other twice over a six week period.
South Africa’s withdrawal means that the other three teams will have a break each week of the tournament.
Following this weekend’s second round of the Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park, the All Blacks will head to Australia to play the Wallabies on October 31 in Sydney and then a week later in Brisbane.
The Springboks’ opening game was scheduled to be against Argentina in Brisbane on November 7, while New Zealand would play them in Sydney on November 21 and Newcastle on November 28.
“Covid is just a gift that keeps on giving,” said Sanzaar CEO Andy Marinos.
“Naturally, it is extremely disappointing that the Springboks, due to the continuing complexities of operating in and around this Covid environment, cannot fully compete in the previously planned six-round Rugby Championship.
SANZAAR recognizes the challenges and adversities that national unions have had to face this year due to the pandemic.
“It is a tribute to the unions for the way they have been able to adapt and, depending on Covid restrictions, hold national competitions with the exception of Argentina, which has been the most affected by its blockade.”
South African Rugby Executive Director Jurie Roux said that Sanzaar and Rugby Australia had done everything they could to make the Rugby Championship happen and that it would have been unfair to them, their partners and the state government to delay a decision any longer.
“This is a hugely disappointing result for supporters and business partners, but the continued impacts of the pandemic across multiple dispensations mean we cannot deliver a Springbok kit without seriously compromising the well-being of the players, apart from other logistical challenges.”
The Springboks now face entering the British & Irish Lions series next July on their home soil, having played little to no test rugby since their victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against England in November. past.
South Africa’s long and harsh Covid-19 lockdown means the country’s top players were sidelined from competitive action between mid-March and the start of the national season last weekend.
The first two matches of the revamped Rugby Championship involving Australia and New Zealand were doubled as the last two matches of the Bledisloe Cup series.
