All Black tests in doubt as all rugby in New Zealand suspended for the foreseeable future
- 1082
Rugby fans hoping to see Super Rugby and other competitions resume in New Zeland will have to rely on replays after New Zealand’s Government announced the country will go into lockdown this week in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The announcement by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to raise the alert system means all travel is severely restricted, people are expected to stay at home, and only essential businesses are to remain operational.
As such, all rugby in New Zealand will be suspended for the foreseeable future, including training.
New Zealand Rugby released the following statement:
SANZAAR, New Zealand Rugby (NZR), New Zealand’s Super Rugby Clubs and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) had been working on ways to progress a revised Super Rugby competition but these plans are now on hold following today’s Government announcement.
All New Zealand teams will cease training, and at this stage there are no decisions on the future of the Investec Super Rugby competition or the All Blacks Tests scheduled for July.
NZR Chief Executive Mark Robinson says our priority is the health and welfare of our players, management and the wider rugby community at this challenging time."
A final decision on the future of Super Rugby and the July Tests has not yet been made, but the likelihood of the All Blacks hosting matches would appear remote with international travel bans in place.
The All Blacks are set to face Wayne Pivac's Wales twice in July later this year followed by a test against Scotland before kicking off their Rugby Championship campaign in August.
