New Zealand players face Christmas Day in quarantine over scheduling

A HUGE row has broken out in the southern hemisphere after New Zealand hit out at the scheduling for the Rugby Championship.

The fixture dates had barely been announced before the All Blacks went public with their anger over their final game in Australia being scheduled for December 12 – a date that would currently mean their players would still be in the required two-week quarantine in a hotel back in New Zealand over Christmas.

“We haven’t agreed to this schedule and are disappointed at the announcement,” said NZR chief executive Mark Robinson. “We understand the commercial considerations in the scheduling. However, the wellbeing of our people is an incredibly important factor in this also.”

Asked if the All Blacks could boycott the final round, Robinson replied: “It’s far too early to land on exactly what the solutions or outcomes are at the moment.

“We’re going to take a few days to keep working with all the key players.”

New Zealand prime minster

Jacinda Ardern also spoke on the matter, saying: “There was an agreement that those games would conclude by the sixth of December and if everyone sticks to that, then it wouldn’t be an issue.”

Rugby Australia have denied they are to blame for the furore, saying in a statement: “On two formal occasions, Rugby Australia was supportive of altering the draw so that the Rugby Championship could be played over five weeks.

“On both occasions, that proposal was rejected which means there was never an agreement to finish the tournament on December 5, 2020.

Sanzaar boss Andy Marinos said: “December 12 is an issue for New Zealand, but we’ve exhausted every other option and only one at its very furthest – working through how best we can manage the quarantine.”

The Rugby Championship will begin on November 7 and will be played entirely in Australia, with double headers in the same stadium on six consecutive weekends.