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 the 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, though NZR CEO Mark Robinson adopted a more conciliatory tone in a statement on Thursday.
"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.”
The pair are scheduled to play two Bledisloe Cup Tests before the start of the competition, the first on Sunday followed by another clash on October 18
All matches involving Argentina and world champions South Africa will remain as scheduled, and the pair will now close out the competition on December 12 at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium.
South African Rugby have still 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 entire Southern Hemisphere championship this year. Argentina have already arrived in the country to start their preparations this week.
Revised Rugby Championship 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; December 12, Newcastle, South Africa v Argentina
- Reuters
SANZAAR confirm earlier start for Rugby Championship
Image: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
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 the 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, though NZR CEO Mark Robinson adopted a more conciliatory tone in a statement on Thursday.
"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.”
The pair are scheduled to play two Bledisloe Cup Tests before the start of the competition, the first on Sunday followed by another clash on October 18
All matches involving Argentina and world champions South Africa will remain as scheduled, and the pair will now close out the competition on December 12 at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium.
South African Rugby have still 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 entire Southern Hemisphere championship this year. Argentina have already arrived in the country to start their preparations this week.
Revised Rugby Championship 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; December 12, Newcastle, South Africa v Argentina
- Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Latest Videos
Most Read
Rugby
Cricket
Rugby
Pages
Rugby