Commercial gain and not player welfare was likely the reason New Zealand Rugby decided not to put the All Blacks on a charter flight ahead of Bledisloe III.
With Covid-19 rearing its head on both sides of the ditch, it is believed the NZR thought they could financially capitalise on the pandemic engulfing Australia and New Zealand by shifting The Rugby Championship to the United Kingdom.
In doing so, high ranking rugby officials believe the NZR put their own commercial interests and ticket sales ahead of the traditions of the game by playing the tournament in one of the host nations.
As one insider said, “This is the dark side of PE if it’s not managed.”
Another said, “New Zealand are trying to game the system.”
It has…
