Super Rugby: Australia may host competition as a ‘contingency plan’
June 12, 2021, Sydney, NSW, USA: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 12: Mark Nawaqanitawase of the Waratahs attacks during the round five Super Rugby Trans Tasman match between the NSW Waratahs and Chiefs at Brookvale Oval on June 12, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Credit Image: © Speed Media/Icon SMI via ZUMA Press)
Speculation has been growing that the Super Rugby Pacific season will have to be played on Australian shores due to border restrictions enforced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Western Force, in Australia, have swapped their home games and temporarily taken up a base on the east coast to allow fixtures to take place as the Western Australian Government has prevented teams from flying in and out to play in Perth.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, there is an expectation of a bubble to be formed in Queenstown where all their teams, including debutants Moana Pasifika, will be based.
New Zealand’s travel restrictions
The Super Rugby organisers are not looking past planning the initial rounds given the dynamic nature of the pandemic. However, the main cause for concern is the New Zealand side of the draw in the latter stages of the tournament.
The Queenstown bubble can only mitigate enough to allow the first half of the tournament to be played but, with New Zealand’s heavy restrictions on travel, fixtures from April going forward are unlikely to be completed.
A solution would be to move the crossover games to Australia as well as the finals series to complete the tournament whilst not compromising the broadcasting commitments.
“That’s not a consideration at the moment. It’s a contingency plan … but we’ll seek to avoid that for as long as we can,” Rugby Australia executive Ben Whitaker told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The worst-case scenario, if we need to revert to it in the event the border situation with New Zealand makes it necessary, then we have it as an option.”
Rugby Australia’s primary concern is helping the Western Force gain permission to host matches or there are fears that rugby will lose its footing in the area.
“The West Australian rugby public is in a honeymoon phase with rugby again and if we don’t get seven home games, then rugby will die over here,” WA Rugby boss Tony Lewis said.
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