SA Rugby will have until the end of the week to finalise the Springboks participation in the Rugby Championship scheduled to get underway on 31 October 2020.
The Springboks will need to be on a plane shortly after the confirmation, should SA Rugby decide to send the team.
SANZAAR grants SA Rugby 48 hour extension
By all external and internal analysis, the Springboks are nowhere near ready for Test rugby and player welfare appears to be the chief stumbling block to them defending their title in Australia.
A notice released to TheSouthAfrican.com reads: “SANZAAR announced overnight that following a chief executives’ teleconference call on Tuesday 13 October, the SANZAAR member unions have agreed to provide SA Rugby with an additional 48 hours to finalise its internal stakeholder discussions on participation. This will now delay the scheduled departure of the Springboks from South Africa to Australia.
“SANZAAR said it would provide an update on the resolution of these discussions and a timetable for the Springboks participation in The Castle Lager Rugby Championship when available in the coming days.”
Withdrawal from the Rugby Championship could deal a financial hammer blow to SA Rugby who have already had to cut salaries across their organisation after the cancellation of the Super Rugby season.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said earlier this year that they would like at least six rounds of domestic rugby under their belts before entering the Rugby Championship and there has thus far been only one round of competitive domestic rugby.
REVISED DRAW FOR THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 2020
Matchday one – Saturday 31 October
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
19:45 AEDT (10:45 SAST) – Australia v New Zealand
Matchday two – Saturday 7 November 2020
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
17:00 AEDT (08:00 SAST) – Argentina v South Africa
19:45 AEDT (10:45 SAST) – Australia v New Zealand
Matchday three – Saturday 14 November
Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
17:00 AEDT (08:00 SAST) – New Zealand v Argentina
19:45 AEDT (10:45 SAST) – South Africa v Australia
Matchday four – Saturday 21 November
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
17:00 AEDT (08:00 SAST) – New Zealand v South Africa
19:45 AEDT (10:45 SAST) – Australia v Argentina
Matchday five – Saturday 28 November
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
17:00 AEDT (08:00 SAST) – Argentina v Australia
19:45 AEDT (10:45 SAST) – South Africa v New Zealand
Matchday six – Saturday 5 December
Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
17:00 AEDT (08:00 SAST) – Argentina v New Zealand
19:45 AEDT (10:45 SAST) – Australia v South Africa
Matchday seven – Saturday 12 December
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
19:45 AEDT (10:45 SAST) – South Africa v Argentina
Read: All Blacks confirm Rugby Championship participation after schedule revision