Official NZ-hosted Rugby Championship 2020 Thread (subject to Govt approval)

[Auckman]

DATES: "Early-ish November until early-to-mid December, probably across six weeks." (Mark Robinson, NZRU CEO)

HOST NATION: Aotearoa New Zealand



VENUES: (probables)



HOST CITIES: (probables)

[FujiKiwi]

How much of an uproar will there be in NZ if the government gives special exemptions to Aussies and Saffers to come into the country?

EDIT: I mean the players, coaches, support staff etc.

[Auckman]

How much of an uproar will there be in NZ if the government gives special exemptions to Aussies and Saffers to come into the country?

EDIT: I mean the players, coaches, support staff etc.

Shouldn't be an uproar. The America's Cup people were all given exemptions. There was over 100 of those people. As long as they pay for their quarantining (which Sanzaar apparently is willing to do).

[FujiKiwi]

Thanks for the info, Auckman, and for the timely thread.

[stemoc]

the irony is that Fiji, samoa and tonga is their closest neighbours and during a pandemic, it would have been wise to invite them cause they are covid-free just like nz..but nooo, the greedy black arseholes rather invite south africa where the virus is getting worse and Australia where the virus is out of control in atleast 2 states....thus why fiji might actually end up playing the six nations teams this year..

[Auckman]

the irony is that Fiji, samoa and tonga is their closest neighbours and during a pandemic, it would have been wise to invite them cause they are covid-free just like nz..but nooo, the greedy black arseholes rather invite south africa where the virus is getting worse and Australia where the virus is out of control in atleast 2 states....thus why fiji might actually end up playing the six nations teams this year..

Your testing rates are crap. That's the long and short of it.

[average joe]

At the rate we're going I doubt we'll be open for international travel by then.

[Enzedder]

At the rate we're going I doubt we'll be open for international travel by then.

Excellent point - while we might be ready (a week is a long time with covid) it doesn't mean that planes will be flying in other countries.

[Ymx]

At the rate we're going I doubt we'll be open for international travel by then.

Excellent point - while we might be ready (a week is a long time with covid) it doesn't mean that planes will be flying in other countries.

Surely a week quarantine and a passed test should cover it.

[Mr Bungle]

If it goes ahead I hope we fill the stadiums for games we aren’t involved in.

[Caley_Red]

Always been keen to check out Dunedin but wanted to tie it in with some rugby if I was going there.

Assuming we can travel, what are the NZ views of Dunedin? Good place to visit?

[Ali Cadoo]

I loved Dunedin, kind of a quiet town but some gorgeous scenery nearby. Port Chalmers is beautiful and the drive up the waterside to get to Dunedin is ace.

[Enzedder]

If it goes ahead I hope we fill the stadiums for games we aren’t involved in.

I think there are about 5 million Saffers living from Hamilton north.

Places like Hamilton, Dunedin, Napier etc could host the "away games" i.e. teams not involving two of the big sides.

[Auckman]

So getting down to the logistics of this, I can see the 4 teams being hosted in a different provincial town at some swanky resort all to themselves for quarantine purposes (where they can train and keep to themselves in that time). Those bases can be their bases for the entire competition and they can fly to and from the various cities for their various matches.

If they bring their families, they'll be good too. Places like Queenstown need tourists.

[Sandstorm]

At the rate we're going I doubt we'll be open for international travel by then.

Excellent point - while we might be ready (a week is a long time with covid) it doesn't mean that planes will be flying in other countries.

Surely a week quarantine and a passed test should cover it.

You'd need much more. 2 weeks complete isolation for players and staff in one SA location (maybe a Rugby club + exclusive use hotel in Jhb). Tests for everyone on day of travel.
Then you'd probably need to charter a plane and fly all the way to Auckland (farking expensive). Otherwise you're risking infection in Sydney airport transit.
Then 2 weeks quarantine again in NZ before another test.

It'll make usual Soup travel issues look like a day at the beach.

[stunt_cunt]

I don't see any problem with that Sandstorm. If that's what it takes then that's what it takes. There will be some golf resort the Saffers can all unwind in for a couple weeks before moving on. Plenty of quality space like that around.

Provided we keep doing what were doing this end, it's basically free movement normal life beyond the 2 week quarantine, so not a difficult tour at all.

The Australians will whine like raped cats 10 days in and bomb out for sure, I think the Saffers will have a great time though.

[FujiKiwi]

It all sounds a bit pie-in-the-sky then, at least as far as South African participation goes. A straight up Bledisloe is more likely?

[OomStruisbaai]

While putting in the effort the Springbokke may aswell playing against NZ provincial teams, do a month long tour like in 1981.

[OomStruisbaai]

It all sounds a bit pie-in-the-sky then, at least as far as South African participation goes. A straight up Bledisloe is more likely?

Locked down with the Aussies?

[FujiKiwi]

It all sounds a bit pie-in-the-sky then, at least as far as South African participation goes. A straight up Bledisloe is more likely?

Locked down with the Aussies?

I think logistically, a series between kiwis and Aussies in a trans-Tasman bubble is borderline feasible. I don't see the same for South Africa. I hope I'm wrong. Not claiming to be an expert on how a tournament under these conditions could be run.

[Enzedder]

While putting in the effort the Springbokke may aswell playing against NZ provincial teams, do a month long tour like in 1981.

That's the way to do it - play 3 games before the series takes off (Oz and Argies could do the same) and the income from those would make the whole thing quite lucrative.