(CNN)The All Blacks, the New Zealand men's rugby team, person canceled 2 tests against South Africa and a lucifer against Australia due to the fact that of Covid-19 question restrictions.
New Zealand is presently under lockdown restrictions until astatine slightest Tuesday astatine 11:59 p.m. section aft discovering an outbreak of the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus successful the country. Authorities person since uncovered different 30 progressive cases, including 11 locally transmitted infections that were announced connected Friday.
The squad were scheduled to look the Wallabies -- the Australia men's rugby squad -- this Saturday successful Perth, Australia, for the 3rd Bledisloe Cup Test lucifer -- a bid betwixt the 2 nations -- and the nation's 2nd lucifer of the Rugby Championship, a trial bid contested betwixt New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
However, "given the existent uncertainty implicit The Rugby Championship schedule," according to a connection from New Zealand Rugby (NZR), the squad volition not travel.
NZR CEO Mark Robinson said the determination was made due to the fact that of the inability to guarantee the team's instrumentality to home.
"Once the squad leaves our shores, they presently can't instrumentality until November 23 station their Northern Tour, truthful fixed the uncertainty, it makes consciousness to intermission and get much clarity connected these fixtures," helium said successful a statement.
"We stay 100 percent committed to playing successful the full Fortinet Rugby Championship successful 2021 and are moving intimately with SANZAAR to look astatine a scope of options to reschedule these important matches."
Furthermore, the All Blacks were scheduled to play South Africa astatine Forsyth Barr Stadium successful Dunedin connected Saturday, September 25, and astatine Eden Park successful Auckland connected Saturday, October 2.
New Zealand women's rugby side, the Black Ferns, were scheduled to play the Wallaroos -- the Australian women's rugby squad -- successful Christchurch, connected Sunday, September 26 and astatine Eden Park arsenic portion of a treble header with the All Blacks.
But aft authorities proposal that the 2019 World Cup winners and the Wallaroos would not beryllium capable to participate New Zealand to play the matches "due to COVID-19 question restrictions," the games person been canceled.
Robinson said each effort had been made to support the tests successful New Zealand.
"We stock the disappointment of our fans, players and different stakeholders, peculiarly those successful Dunedin wherever the sold-out 100th Test betwixt the All Blacks and South Africa was shaping up arsenic a precise peculiar occasion," helium said.
"However, aft discussions with Government, it is wide that the Covid-19 question restrictions meant determination was nary mode of bringing the South African and Wallaroos squads into New Zealand and we recognize the value of putting the wellness and information of New Zealanders first."
Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos criticized the deficiency of connection from his New Zealand counterparts, saying helium was "bloody angry."
"I deliberation it's disappointing however it has been communicated. Our boys each recovered retired done societal media," helium told reporters.
"I thought New Zealand Rugby didn't adjacent person the respect to consult RA astir their determination truthful that's hugely disappointing."
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