Adelaide Origin could go to Auckland
FOR the first time in 33 years, State of Origin rugby league could be taken overseas.
The NRL is considering playing a historic and ambitious State of Origin match in New Zealand should the Adelaide match in early November be cancelled through COVID.
And Perth has also made preliminary contact with the NRL about hosting another game this year.
The NRL and South Australian Government will decide whether to play the
Adelaide Oval game – scheduled as Origin I on November 4 – in a fortnight.
While the NRL remains confident the Adelaide match can proceed, alternative plans have been discussed including a game to be played in New Zealand or Perth – or possibly two matches at ANZ Stadium, Sydney.
The South Australian Tourism Commission will only agree to the match if social distancing restrictions have eased and a 53,500 capacity crowd can attend.
Adelaide Oval has also been booked on November 4 by the ICC for the T20 World Cup, further complicating the issue. If abandoned in Adelaide, the NRL will look at taking the game to Auckland’s Eden Park.
Having lifted all coronavirus and crowd restrictions, New Zealand’s sporting events – including Super Rugby games – are being played before full stadiums.
Matches in Australia may be played before a 25 per cent stadium capacity for the rest of this season – meaning Auckland would double, if not triple, crowds in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth.
A trans-tasman travel bubble would be needed to avoid quarantine.