Rugby Australia exploring option of hosting Rugby Championship

Rugby Australia said they are exploring the option of hosting a condensed Rugby Championship tournament later this year with the government.

The tournament that also involves New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa were originally scheduled to run between 8th August and 26th September over a span of six rounds.

However, the pandemic cornavirus situation has already cancelled the July home series while the fate of the Rugby Championship will be decided in the coming days with travel restrictions in place.

“We’re exploring with the Australian government whether that can be a bubble here in Australia and we fly in all of the SANZAAR partners and they are in a training bubble and then we can quarantine effectively and play a competition,” Rugby Australia interim CEO Rob Clarke said.

Clarke also said an extended four-game annual Bledisloe Cup series has been proposed to New Zealand Rugby.

“It’s a great product, gains a lot of attention and we feel at least a four-game series is something we can work into the calendar this year to work for them and us,” Clarke said.

Australia will kick-start their revamped local Super Rugby competition in July that will involve Reds, Brumbies, Waratahs, Rebels and Force.