Fuming New Zealand Voted For Rugby Championship Dates: Reports
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published October 01, 2020 | 10:10 AM
Wellington, Oct 1 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Oct, 2020 ) :The All Blacks' claim to have been "blindsided" by a Rugby Championship schedule that would leave its players quarantined at Christmas was in dispute Thursday as reports claimed New Zealand voted in favour of the programme.
Both the Sydney Morning Herald and New Zealand's Newshub media outlet said they had obtained leaked minutes of a September 17 SANZAAR meeting showing New Zealand had signed off on a six-week tournament ending on December 12.
That schedule would mean the All Blacks would still be in the two-week quarantine mandated for returning travellers in New Zealand over Christmas.
New Zealand Rugby chief Mark Robinson, along with delegates from the other SANZAAR countries Australia, South Africa and Argentina, were listed as being at the meeting.
A Rugby Australia source also told AFP that New Zealand voted in favour of the original Rugby Championship agreement for a six-week tournament.
The Sydney Morning Herald said the minutes "revealed New Zealand Rugby agreed to play a six-week Rugby Championship which would finish on December 12, despite their insistence otherwise." SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos told Newshub the tournament "was always agreed to run from November 7 to December 12 and they (New Zealand) were aware of that.
" But when the schedule was made public, New Zealand publicly fumed, claiming it went against their push for a December 5 finish so players could complete Covid-enforced quarantine requirements and be home for Christmas.
"We didn't agree to the schedule and don't agree to the schedule. Or the announcement," Robinson repeated at a press conference Wednesday, hours before the details from the leaked minutes emerged.
"In any forum that we've been in there's been no agreement to play in the tournament on December 12, at any time and any meeting. We've been very clear around that."There was no immediate reaction from NZR to the leaked documents and the issue was further clouded by New Zealand Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol who said he received conflicting information on the issue.
"What we've learnt is exactly the same time that SANZAAR management put out a press release effectively changing the draw to show our last game on December 12, the broadcasters themselves had circulated a draw that showed the last game on December 5," Nichol told reporters.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
BISP embraces E-procurement: launches inaugural tender
Modi govt broken all records of oppression to win elections: President AJK
PM for further strengthening economic, trade ties with Turkiye
Administrative machinery actively checking price, weight of roti/naan: minister
Advisor asks tourists to avoid visiting Kaghan during current rains
Business community indebted to Ahsan Zafar for his unprecedented services: Yousu ..
Three Filipinos dead in UAE floods: officials
DC Larkana chairs meeting to review strategy for anti-Polio drive
Registration process under BISP continues in Sargodha
QAU announces scholarships for KP students
Prisoner commits suicide in Timergara Jail
RCB takes action against selling expired food items
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
11 hours ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
4 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
5 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
5 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
8 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
10 days ago
-
DC, DPO Haripur inspect bus terminals to review fares compliance
12 days ago -
Second phase of refugees’ repatriation to start after Eidul Fitr vacations
12 days ago -
Reaping bounties as Ramazan culminates
13 days ago -
Digital transformation – a boon or bane
13 days ago -
Plants’ business: Another casualty of climate change
15 days ago -
Eid shoppers prioritize children’s joy over personal comforts
15 days ago