Officials: Green light to Rugby Championship hosting in NZ could be 'perceived bias' to rugby and men's sport
Officials investigating the ultimately failed bid for New Zealand to host the Rugby Championship warned that giving the event the green light could be seen as a “perceived bias” for both rugby and men’s sport, documents reveal.
The fears were raised in a series of Government documents obtained under the Official Information Act, which also speak of how the health frontline against Covid-19 were “an already stretched and fatigued workforce”.
New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) finances and subsequently its workforce were gutted earlier this year due to the huge hit Covid-19 made on the global sporting environment.
On July 1, the sporting body officially launched a bid to host the annual Rugby Championship here; something that government department officials agreed would both pump tens of millions into the economy, as well as providing “social benefits” for everyday Kiwis.
But in a briefing paper prepared by MBIE for government ministers, it raised three areas deemed “negative public perceptions”.
They included: “A perceived bias towards rugby” over other sports, and “a perceived bias towards men’s sports”.
Another potential red flag was “a perception that sports teams have been able to pay for preferential treatment where other groups, such as international students and agricultural workers do not have the means to do so”.
If successful, the All Blacks, Argentina, South Africa and Wallabies would have battled it out for Southern Hemisphere supremacy around New Zealand.
But on September 11, those hopes were dashed when Sanzaar awarded the tournament to Australia.
The September 4 document made it clear that Australian officials were preparing a rival bid.
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While the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) supported the NZR proposal in the document, it did raise concerns of how the country’s health force was already “under huge pressure”.
“The additional requirements posed by managing the health needs of sports codes will exacerbate this pressure.”
And if there was an outbreak linked to the event, it would “result in further strain on an already stretched and fatigued workforce”.
A bespoke MIQ facility in Queenstown could house up to two teams at one time.
And NZR also requested that each member of the four teams complete three negative Covid-19 tests before being allowed out of quarantine.
Prior to that document being prepared, Robinson had written to Sports Minister Grant Robertson, saying hosting the event would “provide an inspiring and unifying experience for the team of five million”.
He also questioned whether the New Zealand Government could provide any “financial assistance” to “recognise” the costs of hosting the event.
NZR also tabled a lengthy response to question asked of it by government officials, including queries from the Ministry of Health on whether rugby players would adhere to strict quarantine rules.
The rugby body said it had been “educating” teams and national unions of what was expected of them if they toured New Zealand.
Team management could expel any team member for misconduct for managed isolation breaches. Visas could also be revoked leading to the immediate departure from New Zealand of those who transgressed.
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In the September 4 paper, under a sub-heading of “Overall public benefit”, MBIE wrote that hosting events like the Rugby Championship in the current climate “contributes to the ongoing social benefits to New Zealand”.
In an earlier August 7 MBIE briefing document – labelled with an “urgent” priority – looking at criteria for assessing NZ Rugby’s managed isolation and quarantine facility proposal cited that two of the teams, Argentina and the Springboks, came from “high-risk countries”.
But it also laid out that successfully creating a “bespoke sport MIQ facility” for the event “could serve as a prototype for how New Zealand manages the isolation and quarantine of large sporting and other groups”.
Such a move could also potentially reduce applications from non-New Zealanders for places in the MIQ system, it added.
During research into the proposal, officials from both the Ministry of Health and MIQ undertook site visits to locations in Queenstown and Christchurch, which could be set up as a “sport MIQ facility”.
In the documents, NZR estimated that hosting a successful tournament would result in a “total direct economic impact” of between $26-28 million.
Further money would come from direct sponsorships and a share of both broadcasting rights and match-day profits.
If it had been approved, rugby officials would have picked up the full costs of quarantine for all teams.
But MBIE stressed: “If Covid-19 spreads as a result of it (and there is no guarantee it will not), then the flow-on costs for the community and potentially the nation (economy/society) are unlikely to be able to be recouped.”
Current MIQ rules allow for just one hour’s non-contact exercise for those in quarantine facilities.
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But the rugby proposal would have allowed the four teams to train through their 14-day quarantine stays, something which would “increase injury risk” for them compared to others in MIQ.
The MBIE document said any treatment required would lead to increases in the “health cost incurred to manage the resulting health risks of Covid-19 spreading undetected amongst players”.
Draft training protocols would mean players could initially only train in limited inter-team bubbles.
If a ball left the immediate area of the training field, it could be recovered by only a staff member wearing disposable gloves.
And players would be banned from spitting on the ground at any time.
Robinson first made the application to host the Rugby Championship on July 1.
A joint reply from then-Minister of Housing Megan Woods and Minister of Health Chris Hipkins described it a “constructive approach” that appreciated public health risks.
But they stressed: “You will understand the Government’s number one priority is – and must be – to keep Covid-19 out of our community. The health of New Zealanders is paramount. The integrity of our processes at the border and MIQ facilities is our critical line of defence.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
233 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to comments