New Zealand looks to host entire 2020 Rugby Championship and new trans-Tasman competition in 2021

The ability to host sporting events without fan restrictions has prompted SANZAAR to announce that the country is the “favoured option” for hosting the 2020 Rugby Championship in one location.

This year’s edition of the national team tournament is currently planned to run from 8th August to 27th September and is scheduled to kick off with a game between Australia and New Zealand in Melbourne.

However, with Victoria’s escalating COVID-19 crisis meaning this unlikely to happen, SANZAAR Chief Executive Andy Marinos yesterday addressed a range of issues related to the long-term future of the organisation, the future structure of its competitions and the rest of the 2020 playing calendar amidst the impact of the global pandemic.

Addressing “media commentary”, Marinos advised “having successfully restarted Super Rugby this year in Australia and New Zealand our focus is now on The Rugby Championship (TRC) that is set to be played in one central location. We have determined that New Zealand is currently the favoured option given the COVID stability within the region.

“Critical to this, however, is alignment with the New Zealand Government around its requirements for this to take place. SANZAAR is well advanced in option planning with New Zealand Rugby, which in turn, is now seeking New Zealand Government approval. It is hoped that details on the TRC will be announced in the near future.”

New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive, Mark Robinson said a six-week tournament staged from early November until mid-December is being assessed, with SANZAAR to handle the costs of quarantine measures for the Australia, South Africa and Argentina teams.

Quoted on the Stuff website, Robinson advised “iIt’s a significant opportunity for the game here, and for the entire country which we’re excited about and eager to begin work with a number of key stakeholders, most notably the government, to see what we can make happen.

“We’re looking to play from early-ish November until early to mid-December, probably across six weeks. The actual format and draws and kick-off times, it’s too early to say with much certainty.”

New Zealand Sports and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson said the nation is open to hosting the Championship, subject to the games being held safely and having the “appropriate facilities” available for players to isolate and train upon entry to the country.

New trans-Tasman club competition
Having completed a review of operations, New Zealand Rugby has outlined a new trans-Tasman competition for 2021 that will feature “eight to 10 teams”.

In addition to New Zealand’s five Super Rugby franchises, New Zealand Rugby has suggested it could include a Pacific Islands side and has invited Australia teams to submit expressions of interest to join the competition.

Advising that the new competition results from the New Zealand Rugby’s board having approved a number of recommendations from the three-month review and the success of the new Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, Robinson explained “the focus is now on confirming the licences for New Zealand's five current Super Rugby clubs and that work is now underway.

"As well, there is a huge desire to have a Pasifika team involved, which we think will be massive for the competition, popular with fans and is a priority for us.

"We will also be working with Rugby Australia to seek expressions of interest from their current Super clubs and other interested parties to join the competition and that work will begin in earnest.”

The announcement would suggest that New Zealand’s 25-year-old association with SANZAAR (the body for representing the South African, New Zealand, Australian and Argentinian rugby unions) will end at a club level.

However, foreshadowing , New Zealand Rugby’s announcement, Marinos highlighted yesterday “the SANZAAR joint venture is not being dismantled. The member unions remain committed to the long-term future as a joint venture.

“We all recognise the current challenges we face in trying to settle on any potential Super Rugby competition structures moving forward under the pandemic environment, however the restructuring of Super Rugby through reformatted competitions does not mean the dismantling of SANZAAR.

“There is a clear understanding that the value of the SANZAAR alliance and the pathway of Super Rugby to international rugby remains critical to the long-term success, development and competitiveness of the respective national teams.”

Images: Auckland's Eden Park hosts the first round of Super Rugby Aotearoa competition. Courtesy of Eden Park.