Kings hope to play in ‘bio bubble’
● Other option to fly in and out for games on same day, SA Rugby CEO Roux says
It is hoped Johannesburg will become the centralised “bio bubble” venue for an SA Super Rugby Derby League, which will feature the Isuzu Southern Kings.
As SA Rugby bosses grapple with ideas on how to kickstart their sport after the Covid-19 threat lifts, a number of scenarios are on the table.
It is expected PRO14 teams the Kings and Cheetahs will join SA’s Super Rugby teams in the Derby league, which is expected to take place behind closed doors.
If the “bio bubble” centralised venue plan does not come to fruition then travel would be involved.
Teams could fly to matches in the morning on chartered flights, and then fly out in the evening.
Any return to play depends on government’s existing and evolving Covid-19 regulations.
SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux has submitted a comprehensive 500-page return-to-training and return-to-play protocol to government, which he said was awaiting the green light for non-contact training in “the next couple of days”.
Rugby is targeting a return to training by next Monday and they need a four- to sixweek period to get players ready to play on the field for competitive matches.
Roux said if all went to plan, a Super Rugby SA League could return as early as August.
“Realistically, it’s becoming a bigger chance than it previously was,” Roux said.
“Our plan is to have a home-based, truncated, domestic version of Super Rugby for a period of time and then go into a Currie Cup competition as well as an Under 21 competition.
“Following that on with international fixtures, pending a decision on border restrictions.
“Basically, you would have a Super Rugby version, based on the fact that the Kings and the Cheetahs will most likely be unable to travel to the north, with them being part of the competition for that month.”
Roux said SA Rugby had a couple of contingency scenarios in place to have the competitions staged in either a Johannesburg-based “bio-bubble ”— as mooted by Rugby Australia or same day travel to game cities by chartered flight.
“The one issue we couldn’t get away from was that we are a contact sport — that’s why we like it, that’s why we’re in the game and that’s what we have to live with.
“We had to bide our time and go through the process,” Roux said.
“Initially we thought we would only return to training somewhere in August and return to play somewhere in September.
“But since the subsequent announcements by government, we have had some very interesting negotiations with them.”
“If government wants us to have a ‘bio-bubble’, we’ll obviously do that, and the most likely venue for it would be Johannesburg, for a number of logistical reasons.
“If that’s not necessary, we’ve got a second plan that will involve certain elements of travel around chartered flights and dedicated hotels.
“We want the least amount of engagement within the environment.
“It will almost be a scenario where you fly in the morning for the game, play, and then fly out in the evening.
“We believe we have a comprehensive and scientifically rigorous set of protocols to minimise the risk of transmission and allow a return to competitive rugby within the next two months.
“We have planned meticulously for the moment and know we have the infrastructure and capacity within our professional playing environment to safely deliver those protocols.
“Rugby — and sport in general — is probably better placed than 90% of other businesses to return to normalised activities as fitness testing and wellness measurement in general are part our DNA.”
Roux said the probable loss of four months of the playing calendar would mean a reworking of the domestic calendar but he believed a redesigned Super Rugby competition and the kick off of the Currie Cup were both possible.
Meanwhile, SA Rugby had planned for a range of possibilities for the return to Test rugby.
“There are a number of options,” Roux said.
“The postponed July Tests could still take place here in October; our northern hemisphere tour in November has not been cancelled and the possibility of playing the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in a single venue in “a bubble” has also been workshopped.
“But those all remain unconfirmed and reliant on factors outside of our control.”