Boks bow out in an expensive decision

WORLD champions South Africa have pulled out of The Rugby Championship, forcing major changes to the schedule that will likely cost Australia millions in broadcast revenue they can ill afford to lose.

The Springboks decided they would not be Test-match ready after their stars had played just one domestic game at home due to COVID-19, and their absence will see a threenation tournament featuring the Wallabies, All Blacks and Argentina from October 31 to December 5.

Originally, TRC was announced as six weeks of double-headers starting November 7 featuring the four SANZAAR nations, a schedule agreed to by broadcasters including Fox Sports and Network Ten in Australia.

However, the tournament’s viability was in question from that moment, with the All Blacks threatening to pull out because their players would be forced to quarantine in a hotel on Christmas Day.

Eventually, Rugby Australia agreed to shift the schedule, and allow the All Blacks to play a week earlier in Sydney, on October 31.

But even after that announcement, South Africa refused to commit to the tournament, and after much speculation that they would not participate this week, the news was confirmed yesterday.

“SANZAAR has announced today that the South African team will not travel to Australia to play in The Rugby Championship 2020 against Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. Due to several factors, including South African government travel restrictions, player welfare and safety concerns, and the ongoing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on South African players both in South Africa and across their various clubs in the UK and Europe, the Springboks will remain in South Africa,” a SANZAAR statement said.

The loss of six Test matches is likely to see the broadcast agreement scaled down significantly in Australia and New Zealand.