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The Rugby Championship is about to lose the World Cup winning Springboks.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
RNZ has been told that the South Africans have decided that they will not participate in the tournament in Australia.
The Springboks have cited the well-being of the players and the need for government approval as difficult points to participate in the competition.
The South Africans had to leave for Australia this weekend to meet their quarantine requirements in time.
South Africa’s withdrawal means that the other three teams will share 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.
The All Blacks games against Argentina are scheduled for Parramatta on November 14 and December 5.
South African Rugby issued a statement this morning saying that a final decision on their participation in the Rugby Championship will be announced within the next 24 hours.
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.
– RNZ / Reuters
