World Champions Pull-Out of Rugby Championship

The world champions have pulled-out of the 2020 Rugby Championship. South Africa will not compete in Australia, thereby reducing the tournament to a Tri-Nations. The participants will be Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.

The Springboks’ withdrawal from the Rugby Championship brings SANZAAR into disrepute. It follows South Africa’s move from Super Rugby to the Pro 14.

Argentina’s domestic-based players have been in Australia preparing for the Rugby Championship. They were previously in Uruguay. They will be joined by European-based players next week. The players are to fly to Australia on Monday.

The Rugby Championship will start and finish in Sydney. Game one will be a Bledisloe Cup match on Saturday, October 31. The final game will be between Argentina and New Zealand on Saturday, December 05. In short, the majority of Argentina’s players will have been away from home from September to December.

The updated match schedule means that Argentina will play all four matches on consecutive weekends. Australia and New Zealand will have byes.

COVID-19 disruptions mean that Argentina’s warm-up matches are to take place in Australia. Unlike Argentina, rugby has resumed in South Africa. Notwithstanding, SA Rugby are of the view that the Springboks are not prepared for the Rugby Championship.

The world champions’ decision to pull-out of the Rugby Championship comes after SANZAAR gave SA Rugby a 48-hour deadline to confirm their participation. SA Rugby cited player welfare and a lack of clarity as to whether  the team would legally be able to depart.

Earlier this week Enrique Pieretto and Joaqúín Díaz Bonilla were ruled out of playing for Argentina. The Glasgow and Leicester players will not be able to leave the UK. Gloucester player Matías Alemanno remains on the roster.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP (TRI-NATIONS) – 2020 FIXTURES

Saturday, October 31: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney
Saturday, November 7: Australia v New Zealand, Brisbane
Saturday, November 14: New Zealand v Argentina, Sydney
Saturday, November 21: Argentina v Australia, Newcastle
Saturday, November 28: Argentina v New Zealand, Newcastle
Saturday, December 05: Australia vs Argentina, Sydney