Kiwis will now be home for Christmas
HOSTS Rugby Australia ( RU) and organisers Sanzaar have revealed a revised schedule for the 2020 Rugby Championship after bowing to pressure from New Zealand Rugby ( NZR), with the competition now to kick off a week earlier.
Australia’s clash with New Zealand that was scheduled for December 12 will be played on October 31 after NZR objected to the original date as it meant their players would have to spend Christmas in quarantine due to the country’s strict Covid- 19 travel restrictions.
The initial fixture list saw the competition start on November 7.
The row over the scheduling had soured relations between New Zealand and Australia, RU chairperson Hamish Mclennan admitted this week, although NZR chief executive Mark Robinson adopted a more conciliatory tone in a statement yesterday.
“We’d like to thank our colleagues at Sanzaar and Rugby Australia for the time and effort that has gone into finalising a schedule that is workable for all,” he said.
“It is great news that we now have certainty on the draw and we’re really excited about the fantastic rugby to come.”
All matches involving Argentina and world champions South Africa remain as scheduled, and the pair will now close out the competition on December 12 in Newcastle.
SA Rugby have yet to officially confirm their participation, though, as worries over a lack of preparation time and player welfare persist, with the country’s domestic competition only set to start this weekend.
Australia was chosen to host the southern hemisphere championship this year. Argentina have already arrived in the country.
Revised schedule
Oct 31, Sydney: Australia v New Zealand Nov 7, Brisbane: Argentina v South Africa, Australia v New Zealand
Nov 14, Sydney: New Zealand v Argentina, South Africa v Australia
Nov 21, Sydney: New Zealand v South Africa, Australia v Argentina
Nov 28, Newcastle: Argentina v Australia, South Africa v New Zealand
Dec 5, Sydney: Argentina v New Zealand, Australia v South Africa
Dec 12, Newcastle: South Africa v Argentina