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SANZAAR deny reports Springboks in 'advanced discussions' to play in European tournament
By Online Editors
SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos has reportedly denied claims that South Africa are set to shun the Rugby Championship this year and play in the north instead.
The world champion Springboks, who were also the 2019 Rugby Championship winners, are likely to join the new eight-team northern hemisphere tournament at the end of this year, according to French media.
Japan have pulled out because of Covid-19 travel restrictions, and World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte told Le Progress in France there are "advanced discussions" with South Africa.
"The Japanese will not come to Europe....we are looking for a nation to replace them. We are in advanced talks with South Africa. It would be great to be able to face the Springboks, world champions in the title, but it's not yet done," Laporte said.
Marinos has told Newshub there is "no substance" to the story.
Last week, Marinos said New Zealand was still set to host the Rugby Championship in November and December, with West Australia a back-up option.
There are lingering concerns about New Zealand's ability to host the Rugby Championship - a tournament which has been dominated by the All Blacks - because of the virus outbreak in Auckland.
But Marinos told Stuff: "I feel as if we're close…my philosophy is you've got to control the controllables, and make sure we're doing everything we can so that when the green light is given we can turn things on."
When approached for comment by NZME, a SANZAAR representative said no comment would be made at the moment.
There is general confusion over rugby's schedule with various conflicting reports coming out.
"no knowledge of such an arrangement being planned".
Marinos said last week that New Zealand was opposed to shifting the Rugby Championship to March/April, to align with the Six Nations, but Australia was more open to it. This year's hastily arranged RC will run from November 7 to December 12.
The eight-team tournament replaces the usual autumn schedule for the northern teams, and will start on November 15 which is a fortnight after the Six Nations ends. The final is at Twickenham on December 6.
It is also reported that England players have agreed to a 25 percent pay cut for the matches, a drop of about $12,000 per game.
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Latest Comments
It is if he thinks he’s got hold of the ball and there is at least one other player between him and the ball carrier, which is why he has to reach around and over their heads. Not a deliberate action for me.
Go to commentsI understand, but England 30 years ago were a set piece focused kick heavy team not big on using backs.
Same as now.
South African sides from any period will have a big bunch of forwards smashing it up and a first five booting everything in their own half.
NZ until recently rarely if ever scrummed for penalties; the scrum is to attack from, broken play, not structured is what we’re after.
Same as now.
These are ways of playing very ingrained into the culture.
If you were in an English club team and were off to Fiji for a game against a club team you’d never heard of and had no footage of, how would you prepare?
For a forward dominated grind or would you assume they will throw the ball about because they are Fijian?
A Fiji way. An English way.
An Australian way depends on who you’ve scraped together that hasn’t been picked off by AFL or NRL, and that changes from generation to generation a lot of the time.
Actually, maybe that is their style. In fact, yes they have a style.
Nevermind. Fuggit I’ve typed it all out now.
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