The spread of COVID-19 is having a major impact on the sports world around the world, but in New Zealand, where the number of infections has been kept low, domestic rugby matches are being held.
Next up is an international tournament, and it has been decided that the Investic Rugby Championship, featuring the four strongest rugby nations in the Southern Hemisphere - Australia, South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand - will be held in Australia in November and December.
However, there is a possibility that some of the All Blacks' key players will not be taking part in this international rugby tournament.
Baby Rush All Blacks
Currently, only people who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, or have special permission from the government, can enter New Zealand, and everyone is required to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.
This rule will be imposed on the All Blacks playing in Australia without exception. As a result, players will be separated from their families for about 10 weeks, and will have to spend Christmas in quarantine after returning from Australia. For this reason, some of the star players may not participate in the international tournament in Australia at all.
Yes, recently a number of All Blacks players have become fathers.
Richie Mo'unga and TJ Perenara, who both played active roles in the Rugby World Cup held in Japan last year, have just had babies.
Richie Mo'unga and his daughter were photographed on their first Father's Day. Father's Day in New Zealand is the first Sunday in September.
Here is Teejay Perenara with his baby. "The world has changed," he wrote.
Beauden Barrett, who is also popular in Japan, and his wife Hannah are expecting their first child next month.
In addition, many of the players have small children and are concerned about leaving New Zealand at this time, and the New Zealand Rugby Union appears to be sympathetic to such players.
It's unfortunate for both the team and the fans to lose so many star players, but it might be a good thing that the new All Blacks get a chance!
It may also be that New Zealand is unique in that it is more accepting of prioritizing family over so-called "work."
Could the Bledisloe Cup also be held in Australia?
Currently, in addition to the Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship, the Bledisloe Cup, a match between New Zealand and Australia, is also scheduled to be held. The Bledisloe Cup has been held since 1930, and New Zealand has won every year since 2003.
This year, four matches were scheduled to be held, with the first two in New Zealand and the last two in Australia. However, on September 14th, it was reported that the Australian Rugby Union was calling for all matches to be held in Australia.
Australian national team coach Dave Rennie (who is a New Zealander) said that it would be more reasonable for them to come to Australia because New Zealand has stricter entry regulations.
It has been reported that if New Zealand does not accept this request, Australia may boycott the match, but if the Bledisloe Cup is held in Australia, the All Blacks will not be playing in New Zealand this season... That would be sad, but it might be a great opportunity for Australia to get the Bledisloe Cup back?!
Mitre 10 Cup is now on!
The Mitre 10 Cup is currently being held in New Zealand! This is the second biggest rugby tournament after Super Rugby, in which teams from 14 regions of New Zealand compete. It kicked off successfully last weekend on September 11th. Incidentally, the sponsor of this tournament, Mitre10, is a company that operates a chain of home improvement stores in New Zealand.
In the first place, Super Rugby players are selected from those participating in the Mitre 10 Cup, so all of New Zealand's famous players are always on a team and most of them participate in this tournament.
This tournament is also attracting attention due to the return of Kieran Read, who led the All Blacks in the last Rugby World Cup and was supposed to play for Toyota this season.
Reid will play for Counties Manukau, his hometown team.
In a photo of Reed with his parents, his mother is wearing this team's 1997 jacket!
Read made the news because "he has led New Zealand's greatest team, the Crusaders, and the country's national team, the All Blacks, and there's nothing he hasn't achieved except play for his hometown team."
The Mitre 10 Cup is a great opportunity to see many young and veteran New Zealanders all at once! Don't miss the YouTube highlights!
