A condensed version of the Rugby is set to be played in November, with Australia winning the rights to host the 2020 Rugby Championship. The annual southern hemisphere tournament is set to include Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in a six-week, 12-match tournament. All the sides are expected to be based in hub style environments for the duration of the tournament in Australia.

New Zealand were initially considered the front runners to host the tournament, but strict biosecurity measures put in place by the New Zealand government made this impossible. Australia was viewed by tournament organisers as a more commercially favourable option.

SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos was delighted to end the speculation over the tournament’s format and location. 

“Traditionally TRC is played as an international, cross-border series of home and away matches between Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa but due to the pandemic this is not possible this year,” Marinos said.