NPR

Sanzaar announces fresh Rugby Championship with mini-tour fixture schedule

The All Blacks have been forced to play in a southern hemisphere tournament without the Springboks in 2020.
Sanzaar has revised the strategic plan it adopted in 2018 to provide a new direction for rugby and the joint-venture organisation.

A statement released by Sanzaar on Wednesday stated that in light of the dramatic changes in the sporting landscape following the Covid-19 pandemic and its ongoing influence, the southern hemisphere rugby powers had “recognised the need for change in these difficult times’’.

Sanzaar, a joint-venture between the New Zealand, Argentina, Australia and South Africa unions, has committed to an international rugby future through to 2030 that includes a restructuring of the Sanzaar entity, a brand refresh, new development initiatives and a restructuring of domestic club/provincial tournament structures.

The Rugby Championship will continue to be the flagship of Southern Hemisphere rugby for the next decade and as in the past will be the key driver and pathway for unions’ continued success at the highest levels of the game.

Due to the pandemic, Super Rugby was canned in late March and that competition format will never return.

NZ Rugby, which launched Super Rugby Aotearoa following the cancellation of Super Rugby, has since declared it doesn’t want to return to the Super Rugby competition that was to involve 15 teams from New Zealand, Argentina, Australia and South Africa in 2021.

Instead NZ Rugby has decided it will stage SRA again next year, including a finals series, and also hoped to play crossover games against the five Australian teams later in the season.

Rugby Australia is expected to host its own domestic tournament. The South Africa Rugby Union has confirmed it will enter teams in the expanded Pro 14 competition in the Northern Hemisphere.

The SARU refused to send the Springboks to Australia to play in the Rugby Championship – which will be staged in one country because of the pandemic – because it didn’t believe the side had been given enough time to prepare for test matches.

The All Blacks, Wallabies and Pumas have since committed to playing in a revamped Tri Nations tournament.

Sanzaar said the Rugby Championship would be restructured to include a 12-match format with teams playing each other on a home or away basis through the new mini-tour match schedule that was adopted in 2019.

The world champion Springboks haven’t played since their Rugby World Cup triumph over England in Japan a year ago.
“The re-commitment by the four Unions to the long term future of the international game is an important start as we embark in a new direction for both the Unions and the organisation over the coming years," Sanzaar CEO Andy Marinos said.

“This is the first of a number of announcements that will be made over the coming weeks and months as we continue to plan into 2021 and beyond.

“The disruption during 2020 has been significant, however, despite the numerous setbacks and the inherent complexity of our vast geographical expanse, we have managed to keep the game alive and look forward to the remainder of the revised Tri Nations to bring the curtain down on the 2020 season."

OomStruisbaai wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:05 am Rugby Australia is expected to host its own domestic tournament. The South Africa Rugby Union has confirmed it will enter teams in the expanded Pro 14 competition in the Northern Hemisphere.

Sards wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 8:19 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:05 am Rugby Australia is expected to host its own domestic tournament. The South Africa Rugby Union has confirmed it will enter teams in the expanded Pro 14 competition in the Northern Hemisphere.

Cheetahs got a raw deal...

I am sure they will show their worth this weekend against the Sharks...and other lesser teams like the Lions and Stormers

OomStruisbaai wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 8:40 am

Sards wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 8:19 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:05 am Rugby Australia is expected to host its own domestic tournament. The South Africa Rugby Union has confirmed it will enter teams in the expanded Pro 14 competition in the Northern Hemisphere.

Cheetahs got a raw deal...

I am sure they will show their worth this weekend against the Sharks...and other lesser teams like the Lions and Stormers

They will be included in the PRO14. Kings will play in Australia.

handyman wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:21 am Arg, Aus and NZ got a major freight with the scare of SA possibly leaving and have moved fast to lock us in for the next decade.

Jb1981 wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:42 am

handyman wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:21 am Arg, Aus and NZ got a major freight with the scare of SA possibly leaving and have moved fast to lock us in for the next decade.

A delivery? Exciting.

I gather steps are already underway for South Africa’s return. They are updating the ticket templates for Springbok matches as we speak. It’s nothing major, just changing the dd/mm/yy format for game day to TBC.

handyman wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:46 am

Jb1981 wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:42 am

handyman wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:21 am Arg, Aus and NZ got a major freight with the scare of SA possibly leaving and have moved fast to lock us in for the next decade.

A delivery? Exciting.

I gather steps are already underway for South Africa’s return. They are updating the ticket templates for Springbok matches as we speak. It’s nothing major, just changing the dd/mm/yy format for game day to TBC.

When is the court case against South Africa again? I guess that is also TBC...

Guy Smiley wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 7:48 am Just a random bump of a two year old thread and no link to point us to?

Guy Smiley wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 7:48 am Just a random bump of a two year old thread and no link to point us to?

bok_viking wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 8:09 am I am just happy the the talks of SA joining the 6 nations is put off for a few years at least. I seem to be one of the few on these forums that do not want to see SA in the 6 Nations. So at least I can enjoy another 3 years of SH rugby until it all comes up again.

assfly wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 9:34 am Playing the All Blacks in Nelspruit

bok_viking wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 1:39 pm Well it is good that people on that side of the country get some good test matches too and not just matches against minnows. The Pumas deserve to make a little extra money from international matches I think. I myself will do the 5 hour drive to Nelspruit to go watch the game. The stadium is pretty nice though, even if on the smaller side with only 40k seats.

assfly wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 2:25 pm

bok_viking wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 1:39 pm Well it is good that people on that side of the country get some good test matches too and not just matches against minnows. The Pumas deserve to make a little extra money from international matches I think. I myself will do the 5 hour drive to Nelspruit to go watch the game. The stadium is pretty nice though, even if on the smaller side with only 40k seats.

No. The Pumas deserve nothing. Let's talk when the win the Currie Cup.

This fixture deserves a large sold-out stadium. They should send the Argies to the lowveld and give this match to Kings Park.

assfly wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 2:25 pm

bok_viking wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 1:39 pm Well it is good that people on that side of the country get some good test matches too and not just matches against minnows. The Pumas deserve to make a little extra money from international matches I think. I myself will do the 5 hour drive to Nelspruit to go watch the game. The stadium is pretty nice though, even if on the smaller side with only 40k seats.

No. The Pumas deserve nothing. Let's talk when the win the Currie Cup.

This fixture deserves a large sold-out stadium. They should send the Argies to the lowveld and give this match to Kings Park.

Trapper wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:20 am Good to see South Africa welcomed back into the fold.

bok_viking wrote: Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:10 pm So if the Pumas win the cup next week does this mean they can now get more big Bok games?

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:23 pm

Trapper wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:20 am Good to see South Africa welcomed back into the fold.

Where does it say that? And how is an intl season for the Boks in the RC going to work with their players competing in a NH season?

assfly wrote: Sun Jun 19, 2022 5:26 am

bok_viking wrote: Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:10 pm So if the Pumas win the cup next week does this mean they can now get more big Bok games?

Absolutely!

average joe wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:34 am Mbombela stadium is infinitely better than huilige-hout-bed Kings Park

assfly wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:43 am

average joe wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:34 am Mbombela stadium is infinitely better than huilige-hout-bed Kings Park

I'm sure the 20 people who will attend the Bok game there agree with you.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:48 am It will be a sold out. Gives the All Blacks a chance to see real Springboks

assfly wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:57 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:48 am It will be a sold out. Gives the All Blacks a chance to see real Springboks

It won't be sold out. I can't remember the last time any of our home Bok games were sold out.

assfly wrote: Sun Jun 19, 2022 5:26 am

bok_viking wrote: Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:10 pm So if the Pumas win the cup next week does this mean they can now get more big Bok games?

Absolutely!

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Jun 26, 2022 6:57 am

assfly wrote: Sun Jun 19, 2022 5:26 am

bok_viking wrote: Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:10 pm So if the Pumas win the cup next week does this mean they can now get more big Bok games?

Absolutely!

Settled.

average joe wrote: Mon Jun 27, 2022 6:21 am Imagine how shit you must feel when you design your jersey and realize the only colour that's not taken is pink.

average joe wrote: Mon Jun 27, 2022 6:42 am It's shit