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Rob Penney's lock-down struggles: 'I miss them terribly'

Rob Penney. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

New South Waratahs coach Rob Penney could be separated from his family for a number of weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Penney, who coached Canterbury to four New Zealand provincial titles before taking up stints with Munster and the Shining Arcs in Japan, recently came on board as the Waratahs’ head coach.

While Penney relocated to Australia for his new role, his family have returned to Christchurch.

As if the big man doesn’t get confused enough, this riddle had Jim Hamilton in a right twist:

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New Zealand is entering a lock-down state on Wednesday evening in order to stymy the tide of coronavirus transmissions and flights between Australia and NZ have sharply declined due to the disease.

Although Penney has previously returned home this year, mandatory two-week isolation periods after arriving in New Zealand from any other nation have put a stop to regular visits and Penney is now trying to tie up any loose ends before he can hopefully head home.

“I’ve got a wife and three sons and I miss them terribly at the moment,” Penney told The Sydney Morning Herald. “I hope to be able to see them at some point in the near future. I’ve got a very small window and we’ll just see what happens.

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“I’ve got commitments here and that I’ve got to make sure I can contend with first, and then we’ll see what unfolds over the next few days.”

Penney reiterated to the Herald that rugby is going through an incredibly trying time at present, with major and minor competitions around the world called to a halt.

Seven rounds of Super Rugby (minus one game in Argentina) were completed before the tournament was put on hiatus.

There were hopes that localised, mini Super tournaments might have been possible but the latest COVID developments have effectively scuppered any chances of any rugby taking place in the near future.

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Penney’s Waratahs are currently sitting second from the bottom of the Super Rugby table and have recorded just one win this season against a travelling Lions outfit.

WATCH: Pay cuts ‘inevitable’ for New Zealand’s top All Blacks.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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