New Zealand Rugby are pressing on with plans for the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship, despite the closure of the trans-Tasman bubble.
Even with travel between New Zealand and Australia paused for eight weeks, chief executive Mark Robinson says that NZR and the Government are working together to find a solution that would see the Bledisloe Cup played entirely on Kiwi soil.
New Zealand was scheduled to host the first and third Bledisloe Cup tests on August 7 and 28 in Auckland and Wellington respectively, while Perth was to host the second test on August 21.
"We know the uncertainty this creates is challenging for our fans, players and partners, but remain committed to finding a path forward and continuing to deliver world-class rugby in 2021," Robinson says.
"We are continuing to work closely with the New Zealand Government to explore the option of bringing Australia across the Tasman for the two Bledisloe Cup Tests.
"As we have throughout the Covid-19 pandemic our decisions will continue to be guided by the advice of relevant Government and health authorities with the health and safety of our people at the forefront of any decisions. It's important we evaluate all of our options before finalising any plans."
Meanwhile southern hemisphere rugby governing body SANZAAR say that they're "confident a solution can be found" to stage the Rugby Championship, also containing South Africa and Argentina.
South Africa and Argentina were scheduled to quarantine in Australia, before travelling to New Zealand using the trans-Tasman bubble.
"SANZAAR and its member unions - Rugby Australia, New Zealand Rugby, South Africa Rugby and Argentina Rugby Union - will now work with the respective governments and health authorities in Australia and New Zealand, as we have successfully done recently with Super Rugby, to find the best solutions for the tournament given this latest development," SANZAAR says.
New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia are also working to ensure the upcoming two test series between the Black Ferns and Wallaroos, due to begin on September 26 in Christchurch.
