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All Blacks players could opt out of Rugby Championship

(Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

All Blacks players who are not keen on spending eight weeks away from family around this year’s Rugby Championship would be supported by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) if they opt out of the tournament, the organisation’s chief executive has said.

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Southern hemisphere rugby’s governing body SANZAAR said on Friday the four-nation Rugby Championship (TRC) would be held in Australia from Nov. 7-Dec. 12, after initially saying in July that New Zealand was the preferred host.

Teams travelling to Australia, however, would need to arrive at least two weeks before their first game to allow for coronavirus isolation protocols to be completed, while the All Blacks would then spend another 14 days in isolation when they return home.

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John Plumtree on how the All Blacks are planning to take back line out supremacy off the Northern Hemisphere

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John Plumtree on how the All Blacks are planning to take back line out supremacy off the Northern Hemisphere

“We are hugely supportive of our players we know they have gone through an incredibly tough time this year,” NZR’s Chief Executive Mark Robinson said in comments published by New Zealand media on Saturday.

“This challenge of what they are about to undertake is going to be significant and we will back them and their families in whatever way we need to ensure they are looked after.

“If that means they are unable to assemble or travel we’ll hear that out and support that.”

The New Zealand Warriors, who compete in Australia’s National Rugby League competition, have been based in New South Wales since early May.

The Warriors allowed players to return home for personal reasons, with four leaving midway through the season because their families were unable to join them in Australia.

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All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor said on Friday after he played for provincial side Canterbury that it would be tough to be away from home for so long.

“It’ll be tough … but people have to do it all over the world,” he told Sky Sports.

“It’ll be interesting, but hey we still get to play test footy.”

(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Kim Coghill)

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M
MA 2 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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