The Rugby Championship set for schedule shake up

According to Fairfax Media, SANZAAR will look to move away from the fixed schedule that has been in place since 2012 and consider options that will give the four-nation competition a different feel each year.

The change-up, considered as part of the 2021 broadcast deal talks, could break up the first two Bledisloe Cup fixtures which normally take place in the opening two rounds of the competition. The All Blacks have dominated the Bledisloe which has has led to a sharp drop-off in interest from Australian fans early in the competition.

One of the prospects that have been raised has been the suggestion of rotating home double-header matches against a single nation. The shake-up could also placate an increasingly discontented South Africa who, under the current format, shoulder the bulk of the travel demands.

The Springboks play three consecutive Tests on the road each year, the most of any of the four nations. Australia, Argentina and New Zealand each play two Tests away, but the All Blacks are the only nation to host three home games in a row.

The "SANZAAR 2030 strategy" paper addressed the issue, raising the prospect of rotating home double-header matches against a single nation. That format might see the Wallabies host two Tests against South Africa, then play two Tests away against Argentina one year, before swapping the next year. It would not break up the Bledisloe Cup fixtures but it might delay them until later in the tournament.

Full story via: smh.com.au