Queensland favourite to host Rugby Championship as Europe South Africa emerge as alternatives

SANZAAR have given up on playing the Rugby Championship in Western Australia and aim to move the entire tournament to Queensland, but South Africa and Europe have emerged as back-up options.

COVID-19 outbreaks on both sides of the Tasman have sent the Rugby Championship scheduling into chaos and SANZAAR and Rugby Australia have been scrambling to save the tournament this week.

The tournament was originally due to be played across Australia and New Zealand but border closures saw SANZAAR shift sights to try and play almost the entire tournament in Western Australia.

Sources with knowledge of the situation told the Herald that is now extremely unlikely, however, given the state is moving toward a hardline stance that will not see South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina enter the state without a 14-day quarantine.

That is not an option for SANZAAR, who must find an Australian state or country which will allow teams to prepare in a bubble. As it stands, the last remaining option to play matches in Australia is Queensland.

But SANZAAR and RA yet to receive approval from the Queensland government which will allow South Africa and Argentina to fly straight from Sydney - where they will complete 14 days quarantine while being permitted to train - to Brisbane.

Rugby Championship games at Twickenham? It could be on the agenda.Credit:Getty Images

If the Queensland government deny the request, and given New Zealand also require 14 days quarantine, SANZAAR are also working up back-up plans on the other side of the world.

Sources with knowledge of discussions said playing the tournament in South Africa - in front of empty stadiums - is one possible option and Europe is another option. A New Zealand media report on Thursday revealed Paris, London, Dublin and Cardiff as potential destinations for four consecutive double headers.

A SANZAAR spokesperson said the report was conjecture but a European Rugby Championship would make more logical sense than South Africa, as crowds would be permitted and the Tests could provide much-needed revenue for southern hemisphere nations.

Each of the four southern hemisphere nations were set to play a spring tour after the tournament, too, and it would also stop Australia and New Zealand from having to complete two quarantine stints within a few months.

Samu Kerevi in his last game for the Wallabies in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.Credit:Getty

The only negative would be the time zone in which matches would be played. A decision on where and when the Rugby Championship will be played is expected to be made public by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Samu Kerevi spoke to reporters for the first time since he joined the Wallabies squad from Perth.

Kerevi is one of a handful of players that will immediately benefit from changes to the Giteau Law and the star centre conceded he was excited by the thought of being available for the Wallabies more often.

“I’ve always been a fan of the Giteau Law. I think it’s pretty awesome to have your top players here in Australia, competing and all of that,” Kerevi said.

“But I think everyone from overseas, they always want to put on that gold jersey. They always put their hand up to have the opportunity.

“I can only speak for myself and it’s a hard one. I’m enjoying my time in Japan, enjoying the competition that we have there and there is a lot of moving pieces. It’s not just a decision to come back and put on the gold jersey.

“That’s a big driver for guys outside of that Giteau Law. Again, I know there are a lot of guys passionate to play for a jersey but there are a lot of moving pieces to make the decision to either come back or stay overseas.

“Whatever decision they make with that law, I’m sure it’ll be the right one.”

Sam is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.

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