'I'd be very surprised if any player has made a decision as yet' - NZRPA head

The head of the New Zealand players’ union said on Monday he would be surprised if any player had already decided to withdraw from the All Blacks‘ Rugby Championship squad due to concerns about travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The All Blacks will spend at least eight weeks in Australia for the Nov. 7-Dec. 12 southern hemisphere tournament against the Wallabies, Springboks and Pumas and will then have to go through two weeks of isolation upon their return.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) had said on Friday they would support any player who decides to opt out for family reasons and local media reported on Monday that several had indicated they might not want to spend that much time away.

Radio New Zealand said several first-time fathers and others with young children had expressed concerns.

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However, Rob Nichol, the head of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association, said the players were unlikely to make a decision until they had been fully appraised of the plans.

“I’d be very surprised if any player has made a decision as yet, because they know we’ve got a fair bit of work to do on the details before they know what it involves,” he told Stuff Media on Monday.

“Once we’ve got the full plan, that’s the point when players will look at it and then take it under consideration.

“They’ll be given a reasonable amount of time to mull over it and talk it through to those close to them.”

Nichol was unavailable for comment when contacted by Reuters.

NZR said reports that players had expressed a desire to withdraw were premature.

The All Blacks are scheduled to play the Wallabies in Bledisloe Cup matches in New Zealand next month before heading to Australia for the Rugby Championship.