All Blacks coach Ian Foster has revealed one squad member "'barged in his door", insisting he wouldn't miss a family Christmas to represent his country in the Rugby Championship.
NZ Rugby is furious that the Rugby Championship is due to finish on December 12, meaning All Blacks will have to spend Christmas Day in managed isolation, due to New Zealand's strict coronavirus measures.
The national body claims it did not agree to the current schedule for the four-nation tournament, although Newshub has revealed the dates were unanimously approved during a SANZAAR meeting on September 17.
Several players were reportedly reluctant to commit to a Christmas quarantine - including playmakers Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett, who both became fathers recently - were against the idea, but they appear to be on board for the trip.
Foster says the All Blacks will support anyone who wants to withdraw from the team.
"I've had one player that has barged in my door and said 'I'm not playing at Christmas'," Foster has told NZME.
"It's a tough one for the players. They got given some dates, the dates changed, we've basically said, through our Players' Association and the union, to sort it out and get real clarity on the dates."
Foster will name his first All Blacks test team on Friday, before their first test of the year against Australia in Wellington.
On Monday, NZ Rugby will also learn if the October 18 Bledisloe test can go ahead at Auckland's Eden Park. With the region still at Alert Level 2. Prime Minister Jancida Ardern is expected to announce a drop in levels, with no COVID-19 community cases since September 23.
If Auckland remains at Level 2, the second test will be moved to Dunedin.
Join us for live updates of the Bledisloe Cup series first test on October 11.
