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PM makes rugby quarantine backdown

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 15 Sep 2020, 6:50PM
(Photo / File)
(Photo / File)

PM makes rugby quarantine backdown

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 15 Sep 2020, 6:50PM

Rugby Australia is reportedly not fully convinced on playing the All Blacks here on the weekend of October 10th, despite the government's backdown on quarantine requirements.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed that the New Zealand Government will change quarantine rules to allow the Wallabies to prepare for the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand.

It comes after Wallabies coach Dave Rennie says his team wouldn't travel for a test here on October 10, but our government has since eased quarantine restrictions allowing them a 13-day build-up upon arrival.

Ardern said today she had spoken to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last night to ensure the All Blacks' two Bledisloe Cup matches in New Zealand would still go ahead in October.

"I just wanted to make sure that he was aware ... I was made aware last night that there were a few little rumblings around the arrangements that we had in place," Ardern told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking.

"Always better to get ahead of these things before they escalate. Given we had a bit of a deal - we go there, they come here, we both benefit. I thought he might want to know there were a few discussions as to whether the Aussies were still going to come."

However, The Sydney Morning Herald reports Rugby Australia is unconvinced it should agree to the revised protocol and play on October 10.

SMH writer Tom Decent told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Rugby Australia's position has always been playing the games on the 17th and 24th, while New Zealand wants them to play on the 10th and 18th. 

Asked if there is a move from the Rugby Australia to avoid coming to New Zealand at all, Decent says that contracts may prevent that.

"They are contracted to go to at least one as part of the Bledisloe contracts. So Rugby Australia is within their rights to say we are only coming over for one."

Decent says that it wouldn't make sense for Rugby Australia to totally boycott a test, and he does not believe the two tests will be moved to Australia. 

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