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World Cup-holders South Africa pull out of Rugby Championship
SYDNEY, Oct 16, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – World Cup-holders South Africa pulled out
of the Rugby Championship Friday owing to complications caused by the
coronavirus, throwing the southern hemisphere tournament into disarray.
The Springboks, who haven’t played since winning the World Cup for the
third time in Japan last year, cited government travel restrictions, player
welfare and safety concerns for their withdrawal.
It means the competition in Australia from October 31 will be reduced from
12 games to six, involving only Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.
“This is a hugely disappointing outcome for supporters and commercial
partners,” said South African Rugby chief Jurie Roux.
“But the ongoing impacts of the pandemic in multiple dispensations mean we
are unable to deliver a Springbok team without seriously compromising player
welfare, apart from other logistical challenges.”
While New Zealand resumed rugby last June and Australia soon after, Covid-
19 forced a longer shutdown in South Africa with the Springboks’ players
facing the prospect of travelling to Australia with only 80 minutes of game-
time under their belt.
Coach Jacques Nienaber wanted close to 500 minutes.
There had been suggestions that they could be replaced by a Barbarians side
or Australia A to ensure the four-team draw stayed intact, but organisers
opted against this, with the tournament reverting to its former Tri-Nations
format.
The Wallabies will face the All Blacks in Sydney on October 31 to kick off
the event and then again on November 7 in Brisbane before both teams take
turns playing Argentina in subsequent weeks.
The tournament was originally scheduled to begin in August until the
pandemic forced a postponement.
It was then supposed to feature six straight double-headers through
November and early December.
But that plan fell through when New Zealand demanded their final game on
December 12 be changed so they could complete their Covid-enforced quarantine
before Christmas Day.
Andy Marinos, chief executive of SANZAAR, the tournament’s governing body,
joked that “Covid is just a gift that keeps on giving”.
“SANZAAR recognises the challenges and adversity that the national unions
have had to face this year due to the pandemic,” he added.
“It is a tribute to the unions in how they have been able to adapt and,
dependent on Covid restrictions, run domestic competitions with the exception
of Argentina who has been impacted the hardest through their lockdown.”
Argentina are already in Australia and in quarantine.
The Springboks, who beat England in the World Cup final last November, now
face the prospect of no Test match rugby until they host the British and
Irish Lions in Soweto next July.
There will also be a considerable financial blow with SA Rugby standing to
lose a reported 300 million rand ($18 million/15.5 million euros) by not
taking part.
The governing body had to slash 1.2 million rand of the 2020 budget after
the coronavirus pandemic halted rugby in South Africa last March.
SA Rugby suffered losses in 2016 and 2017 before making small profits in
the following two years.
Rugby Championship draw:
October 31 – Australia v New Zealand at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium
November 7 – Australia v New Zealand at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium
November 14 – New Zealand v Argentina at Sydney’s Bankwest Stadium
November 21 – Australia v Argentina at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium
November 28 – Argentina v New Zealand at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium
December 5 – Argentina v Australia at Sydney’s Bankwest Stadium
BSS/AFP/GMR/0854 hrs