Testing times for ABS schedule
New Zealand Rugby is prepared to put the All Blacks on the field deep into December if it means driving much-needed revenue from their biggest money-spinning brand.
But, as chief executive Mark Robinson made more than clear after the Government’s announcement that rugby could return to the fields under alert level two, possibly as early as the middle of next week, playing test matches remains a distant prospect under travel restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 global pandemic.
NZ Rugby’s full focus is on a 10-week, two-round ‘‘Aotearoa’’ Super Rugby competition that will see New Zealand’s five franchises play each other home and away to decide a 2020 champion. There will be no finals and matches will be behind closed doors, at least until gatherings restrictions are lifted.
Details are expected to come out next week but Stuff understands the plan is to play the two matches each week on a Saturday and Sunday, for teams to fly in and out of cities on game-day, and go straight to and from stadiums from their planes.
With several weeks needed to get players up to full-contact mode, the new competition is tabbed for a midJune start which will take it through until the end of August. It could be the first top-level rugby to be played since the pandemic shut down the sporting world.
But with NZ Rugby forecasting a potential drop of up to 70 per cent of revenue for 2020 (around $120 million) because of the Covid-19 shutdown, a Super Rugby return, and a potentially souped-up Mitre 10 Cup to follow, only addresses the
financial issues so much.
Robinson said the Super Rugby return would ‘‘drive some revenue back into the game’’ via broadcasters and sponsors but admitted ‘‘we’ve still got a long, long way to go against some of the setbacks we’ve described as a result of Covid19’’.
For franchises the financial windfall will be minimal. New Zealand’s five Super Rugby clubs drive most of their revenue from gate
takings and while doors remain closed that tap will remain turned off. There will be some sponsorship upside, but there will also be a cost to opening and cleaning stadiums to meet health protocols.
It’s possible some clubs could look at alternate venues, though detail on that is still being worked through, with broadcasting requirements limiting options.
Robinson was unable to provide any clarity on the prospects for test rugby in 2020 on a call with media, but conceded they would go as late as they could if there was any chance of getting the All Blacks on the field.
‘‘We’re factoring any international, cross-border play for later in the year,’’ he said. ‘‘Everything is on the table. Our feeling is we just need to make a start once we get the proper green light around Super Rugby and see what time and opportunities that gives us for any other rugby later in the year.
‘‘We’d love to play some form of international rugby. We’ve made no secret of the fact that’s where we derive the large share of our income from.’’
Asked the latest in the year he would be prepared to put the All Blacks on the field, Robinson said: ‘‘We’ve got a very open view on that and we’re talking through a lot of different scenarios that potentially sees New Zealand rugby players playing into December.’’
While wider test rugby remains a faint hope for 2020, it may be that any trans-tasman bubble that opens up at least allows for a Bledisloe Cup series. Robinson again indicated that remained, at best, a watching brief at this stage.
Suggestions of the Rugby Championship possibly playing out in one venue, with Perth mooted as a potential landing spot, also drew a similar response from the Kiwi rugby chief.
‘‘We’d have to consider any and all possibilities and as we get more detail around what the transTasman bubble might mean . . . but at this stage it’s too early to say.’’
Robinson also confirmed an announcement was imminent on the mooted July tests. It looks a straight tossup between a straight cancellation or a hopeful postponement till year-end.
If test rugby remains on the backburner, the potential of an All Blacks-laden Mitre 10 Cup also heightens.
Said Robinson: ‘‘It’s very fluid around timing of any competitions. We’ll keep a watching brief on government advice, and if it carries on being as positive as it has been we’re hopeful we’ll get some of those domestic competitions [including the Farah Palmer Cup] on the field later in the year.’’