Sydney to host Bledisloe as Rugby Championship confirmed in NZ
Sydney rugby fans are set to become the unexpected beneficiaries of Melbourne's COVID-19 crisis as officials look for contingencies for this year's Bledisloe Cup series.
As the SANZAAR nations confirmed the Rugby Championship would go ahead in a hub-style model in New Zealand, the Herald has learned that Sydney's ANZ Stadium could inherit one of two Bledisloe Cup Tests set to go ahead in Australia.
Sydney could play host to a Bledisloe Cup clash in 2020.Credit:Getty
Contingent on Sydney's virus case load staying in check - by no means a foregone conclusion - ANZ could host the Test originally scheduled to be new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie's debut match on August 8 at Marvel Stadium.
Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium was set to host the third Test in October and, given Queensland's growing position as hub-host par excellence, looks certain to retain the fixture.
RA and New Zealand Rugby have not yet decided whether the Australian Tests would take place before or after the Rugby Championship, which is confirmed for October and November.
Current planning is for the matches to take place before the four-nation series, but with Super Rugby AU not due to finish until mid-September, that does not leave much time to schedule the two Tests.
Rennie, meanwhile, is set to arrive in Australia next week on July 21, and will have to serve a second quarantine period. He and wife Steph went into isolation in Auckland after their return from Scotland, then decamped to New Plymouth to catch up with family before they moved to Australia.
SANZAAR boss Andy Marinos said a New Zealand hub for the Rugby Championship was still contingent on government approvals.
"We have determined that New Zealand is currently the favoured option given the COVID stability within the region," Marinos said.
"Critical to this, however, is alignment with the New Zealand Government around its requirements for this to take place.
"SANZAAR is well advanced in option planning with New Zealand Rugby, which in turn, is now seeking New Zealand Government approval. It is hoped that details on the TRC will be announced in the near future."