Coronavirus: SANZAAR chief proposes staging Rugby Championship during club season

The Rugby Championship in 2020 could be held while the Super Rugby season is ongoing to make sure both take place, SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos has suggested.

This year’s southern hemisphere tournament between Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand is due to be held between August 8 and September 27.

The domestic Super Rugby campaign is scheduled to finish with the final in June, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the season to be put on hold.

As organisers try to ensure both competitions can be staged in 2020, Marinos has proposed the idea of having them run in parallel, despite the drawback of Super Rugby teams having to give up international players during Test-match windows.

“Could you be playing the Rugby Championship at the same time as a domestic competition?” Marinos said via NewsHub.

“It’s not trying to rubbish one for the other, it’s how do we get a sensible solution in what may be a restricted time frame?

“Logic would suggest if there is an ability to create like what we’ve seen with the NRL around a bubble, if it’s all in one location it seems a bit easier.

“At this point in time, we’d be silly to rule out anything. We are hell-bent and have every intention of delivering the complete package.”

KEO.co.za News wire is powered by opta