How hosting the Rugby Championship could lead to New Zealand becoming the world's 'sporting hub'
Hosting the 2020 Rugby Championship exclusively in New Zealand could pave the way for the nation to becoming a global “sporting hub”, according to two Super Rugby Aotearoa stars.
New Zealand been a leading light in the worldwide COVID-19 recovery effort from a sporting perspective, with Super Rugby Aotearoa among the first professional sporting competitions on the planet to kick-off in front of unrestricted live crowds.
Other domestic leagues, such as the national basketball and netball competitions, are also well underway in front of live audiences, but things could be taken a step further later on this year.
Reports have emerged in recent weeks about the prospect of staging SANZAAR’s Rugby Championship – featuring the All Blacks, Wallabies, Springboks and Pumas – solely in New Zealand between November and December.
International travel restrictions and ongoing coronavirus outbreaks in Australia, South Africa and Argentina have made it implausible for the annual tournament to be held in its regular form across the Southern Hemisphere.
SANZAAR has, however, announced plans for the competition to be held in New Zealand, where there are currently just 27 active case of COVID-19, all of which are being managed in isolation facilities.
The governing body stills requires Government approval for travel exemptions and quarantine measures, but hopes remain high for those plans to come to fruition.
Speaking on RugbyPass’ Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall said allowing New Zealand to host an international event like the Rugby Championship could lead to other sporting fixtures to be held in the country.
“It’s been great with how New Zealand’s gone through this whole COVID situation,” he said.
“Other sports coming here, whether it be UFC, there have been a few talks about that, or whether it be boxing or some other form of sports… I think it’s a great idea, if we could get them in here in a bubble where it’s going to be safe.
“I know as consumers, it’s going to be great to have some international fixtures this year as well.”
Blues hooker James Parsons agreed with his North Harbour teammate, noting that New Zealand “could be the sporting hub” of the world.
“From our spectators point of view, [it’s] an opportunity for boosting the economy in a tough year, it’s great,” the two-test All Black told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“It sort of gives us an opportunity to be that place to come to play, not just footy, maybe other sports or other comps can come down here as well.”
Whispers of the UFC, international boxing bouts and even the NFL coming to New Zealand have been touted in recent weeks.
UFC boss Dana White last week said “it’s possible” the sporting franchise could return to Kiwi shores this year after hearing of sport being played in front of live crowds in New Zealand.
There were also reports last month suggesting New Zealand stood as a primary contender to host the third title fight between heavyweight boxing stars Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.
Senior ESPN writer Mina Kimes also brought up the idea of New Zealand hosting NFL games on The Bill Simmons Podcast last week, but retracted that suggestion as “incredibly irresponsible speculation by me” when pressed on the concept.
However, podcast host Simmons labelled the outlandish idea as “great”, stating: “I feel like New Zealand would reject us, though it’d be the greatest advertisement for New Zealand, which is gorgeous.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCx6zCcAoot/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
While rugby players from New Zealand and Australia are back in action via Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU, players from South Africa and Argentina still haven’t played since Super Rugby’s suspension in March.
Latest figures show there are nearly 170,000 active coronavirus cases in South Africa, and over 75,000 in Argentina.
Players in South Africa have only now been granted permission to return to training in groups of five, leading to questions regarding the possibility of warm-up games against local Kiwi sides to help bring the Springboks and Pumas up to speed ahead of the Rugby Championship.
Hall endorsed the idea of the international teams playing in regional centres such as Napier, Invercargill and Palmerston North, while Parsons said provincial teams and Super Rugby sides would relish the chance to play the Wallabies, Springboks or Pumas.
“I know teams would jump at warm-up games,” Parsons said.
“When we played France for the Blues, when we played the Lions, those are massive fixtures for those sorts of teams and guys who don’t get those opportunities, so I don’t think there’d be too much hassle there.”
Parsons added that while some might perceive South Africa and Argentina to be at a disadvantage going into the Rugby Championship due to their lack of game time, he believed the attrition of Super Rugby Aotearoa could even the playing field.
“After 10 weeks of derbies – I think two Crusaders got ruled out for the rest of the year, there’s myself and a number of other guys at the Blues and obviously every other team – it’s starting to wear on certain teams,” he said.
“Where the bodies are at come that [the Rugby Championship], if you looked at Argy and South Africa, [they] could be really fresh, so you don’t know.
“It’s sort of like a six of one, half a dozen [another]. Yeah, the skills might be a bit off, but the energy levels will be through the roof.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments