SANZAAR HAS CONFIRMED that this year’s Rugby Championship will be played in Australia, in November and December this year.

All of SANZAAR’s four member unions (Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) will participate and the announcement follows a detailed assessment of tournament hosting submissions from New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia.

The tournament was moved from its traditional August-September window due to the ongoing effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rugby Championship (TRC) matches will be played in Australia within the recently announced World Rugby sanctioned Southern Hemisphere playing window of 7 November to 12 December. The tournament will comprise a six -week, 12-match, “home and away” tournament involving Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

SANZAAR CEO, Andy Marinos, stated: “We are delighted that SANZAAR can, at last, confirm the participants and host country for The Rugby Championship and put an end to continued speculation about the tournaments’ format and location.

Traditionally TRC is played as an international, cross-border series of home and away matches between Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa but due to the pandemic this is obviously not possible this year.”

“We have, therefore, worked very hard as a group to ensure TRC takes place this year, albeit in one country, and SANZAAR was meticulous in assessing the two options for hosting presented to it by New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia”.

“SANZAAR ultimately determined that based on government required quarantine protocols [for entry and training prior to the tournament] and commercial underwriting, the Rugby Australia submission was the most desirable and workable in terms of tournament logistics for the essential pre-tournament preparation period and the six-week tournament itself.”

Marinos stated that South Africa’s participation remained to be confirmed as it was dependent on several factors outside the control of SANZAAR. “The progress and impact of the pandemic has varied from country-to-country and international sporting competition is currently suspended in South Africa,” he said.

Will we see South Africa against New Zealand this year? Craig Mercer / INPHO Craig Mercer / INPHO / INPHO

“The Springboks’ participation will be dependent on the relaxation of that suspension as well as overcoming a number of other logistical challenges including the opening of international air borders. South Africa is only expected to return to competitive play next month [October], leaving a relatively short time to prepare.”

“The TRC is one of international rugby’s biggest and prestigious tournaments and it is great to at last provide some clarity for rugby fans and the players.

“It would not have been possible if not for the huge contributions of our stakeholder unions, our broadcast partners as well as both the Australian (State and Federal) and New Zealand Governments for their assistance and contribution through their respective National Rugby Unions during this process.

“SANZAAR is now currently working through the refinement of the detailed planning with Rugby Australia and we hope to announce match venues, match dates and kick-off times in the very near future.

“We are cognisant of the fact that the COVID pandemic environment continues to change and throw up obstacles but we are confident that our plans are robust and we will naturally build in contingency measures to suit any further changes,” added Marinos.