LAST UPDATE | 16 Oct 2020
WORLD CUP HOLDERS South Africa have pulled out of the Rugby Championship over complications caused by the coronavirus, badly diminishing the tournament and raising further questions about their future in southern hemisphere rugby.
The Springboks, who haven’t played since winning their third World Cup in Japan nearly a year ago, cited government travel restrictions, player welfare and safety concerns for their withdrawal.
It means the competition in Australia from October 31 will be slashed from 12 games to six, involving only Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.
The pull-out by the defending champions also prompted speculation about future editions of the Rugby Championship, after South Africa walked away from the southern hemisphere’s provincial-level Super Rugby last month in favour of Europe’s Pro14.
South African Rugby chief Jurie Roux said the withdrawal was a “hugely disappointing outcome for supporters and commercial partners.
“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 in 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 were suggestions they could be replaced by a Barbarians side or Australia A to ensure the four-team draw stayed intact, but organisers opted to return the tournament to its former Tri-Nations format.
The Wallabies will face the All Blacks in Sydney on 31 October to kick off the event and then again on 7 November in Brisbane. Both teams will then take turns playing Argentina in subsequent weeks.
- ‘Covid gift keeps giving’ -
The Rugby Championship 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 12 December be moved so they could complete the Covid-enforced quarantine on their return home 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.”
However, South Africa’s no-show could signal an end to the SANZAAR alliance, which has become increasingly tenuous during the coronavirus crisis.
“It would not be a surprise if the World Cup champions now play all of their rugby in Europe,” said a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Springboks, whose last match was their win over England in the World Cup final last November, now face the prospect of no Test rugby until they host the British and Irish Lions in Soweto next July — a gap of 20 months.
They will also suffer 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 pandemic halted rugby in South Africa last March.
It suffered losses in 2016 and 2017 before making small profits in the following two years.
A real shame. Was really looking forward to seeing them in action again. They were a breath of fresh air at the World Cup. Understandable though.
Bring on the seven nations. This will make some competition with SA included.
@Con Cussed: Same travel problems with Covid for now. Also I don’t think weakening the Southern Hemisphere competition makes sense for rugby in the longer term.
It would be like saying Italy aren’t up it let’s go back to the old 5 nations competition.
Happy to have SA teams in the Pro 14, but in no way want SA in the 6 nations. I think SA fans prefer playing NZ, Aus and Arg its only the extra money that the 6 nations generates that they would like. Also they need SA in the 4 nations to keep it viable for the others. SA could have best of both, provinces in HCup (the most lucatative club competition) playing against the best NH teams and players, but on an international stage still playing against NZ and Oz two of the best teams in the world also.
Could have been an opportunity for a pacific island team to take their place.
@gillespieonthew: not sure its possible. Most are in the NH and the NH release window doesn’t fully match up with the SH one. French clubs are taking legal action to try and reduce the NH player release from 24th Oct. There is no way they would let PI players go outside the NH window.
Interesting times, personally I don’t want the springbok vs all black battle every year to disappear, this is one of the biggest rugby rivalry matches in the world and always will be…