New Covid outbreak puts Rugby Championship in doubt

The southern hemisphere’s showpiece Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup matches were in jeopardy Friday after Australia’s latest Covid-19 outbreak popped its trans-Tasman travel bubble with New Zealand.

The two series are scheduled to be played primarily in New Zealand and Australia over the next two months with the added participation of South Africa and Argentina.

But New Zealand has suspended its quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia for at least eight weeks on Friday in response to the latter’s escalating coronavirus outbreak. 

Brendon Morris, the head of the Rugby Championships governing body SANZAAR, said they were now reviewing their options “to find the best solutions for the tournament given this latest development.

The Wallabies have been in a secure bubble on Australia’s Gold Coast since their recent series against France.

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern suggested they could still reach New Zealand for the first Bledisloe Cup Test on August 7 if they travelled in the next week, with proof of a negative pre-departure Covid test.

“However, it must be in the seven-day window, we are not making exceptions outside of that,” she added. “Everyone else has to go into quarantine.”

Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos and New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson said they were aiming for a positive outcome but had yet to confirm plans. 

“It’s important we evaluate all of our options before finalising any plans,” Robinson said. 

Last year’s Rugby Championship was originally to be staged in New Zealand but because of quarantine restrictions it was moved to Australia.

It featured only New Zealand, Australia and Argentina after South Africa pulled out.