Tests in jeopardy

The All Blacks’ season has been plunged into turmoil after the government paused the quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia for eight weeks.

Ian Foster’s All Blacks are due to play three Bledisloe Cup tests against Australia in Auckland on August 7, Perth on August 21 and Wellington on August 28.

The chances of those tests going ahead as planned appear dead in the water, as the virulent Delta strain of the Covid-19 virus continues to spread in NSW and Victoria, while Queensland also recorded one local case yesterday.

However, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed there was an avenue the Wallabies might be able to utilise to travel to New Zealand.

Courtesy of an economic impact exemption, they could travel to New Zealand within the seven-day window returning Kiwis can utilise, potentially remaining in the country for an extended Rugby Championship stint, which could result in the All Blacks hosting all three Bledisloe Cup tests.

‘‘If there are significant economic issues that are brought up by the closure in that seven-day window that can be resolved, then we have a delegated minister to work through any of those issues,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘However, it must be in the seven-day window, we are not making exceptions outside of that. Everyone else has to go into quarantine.’’

The bubble paused from 11.59pm last night, but there will be managed return flights over the next seven days to allow Kiwi citizens and residents to come home.

Those outside of Victoria and New South Wales will be able to get on these flights and not go through managed isolation – but everyone will need a negative pre-departure test.

Those in New South Wales will need to go through managed isolation, while those in Victoria will be able to self-isolate at home, with similar testing requirements to those in managed isolation.

In a shared New Zealand Rugby (NZR), Sanzaar and Rugby Australia (RA) statement, RA chief executive Andy Marinos confirmed the Wallabies had been in a secure bubble on the Gold Coast since their victory against France in Brisbane last weekend.

He aimed for a ‘‘positive outcome in the coming days’’, with confirmation NZR boss Mark Robinson is working closely with the New Zealand government in a bid to bring Australia across the ditch.

Further changes to the Rugby Championship schedule will be announced in due course, with South Africa Rugby and Argentina Rugby Union also involved in the tournament, which was slated to be primarily played across New Zealand and Australia in the next two months.

Asked to clarify if it was possible the Wallabies could travel to New Zealand, Ardern said there was ‘‘issues to work through there’’.

‘‘A: if they are able to demonstrate the [economic] case, b: if they are able to come into that window,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘None of that, as I understand, has been fully worked through, we’re leaving that to delegated ministers to make decisions.

‘‘Not just for this situation, for any others where there may have been pre-arrangements that have significant economic impact if they are removed.’’

RA chief executive Andy Marinos aimed for a ‘‘positive outcome in the coming days’’.

Nix without a coach

Wellington Phoenix will begin preseason without coach Ufuk Talay and a handful of key players, a week later than originally planned due to the growing Covid-19 crisis in Australia.

Head coach Talay, assistant coach Giancarlo Italiano, three players and a member of the medical staff remain stuck in New South Wales following the conclusion of the 2020-21 A-League season, while they have another six players in Japan competing at the Tokyo Olympics.

Phoenix general manager David Dome said the club had tried unsuccessfully over the past fortnight to secure spots in managed isolation in order to bring their staff and players home ahead of their planned July 19 start date.

Training will now begin next Monday but in a significantly reduced capacity with only a handful of players in New Zealand, including new signing Gary Hooper, who is due to get out of MIQ.

‘‘This is of huge concern, not just for us, but for all of the New Zealanders [trying to get home]. There’s just no certainty. You can’t plan anything. It’s having a major impact on us and our preparations,’’ Dome said.

The Phoenix were due to travel to Australia to play the winner of Newcastle Jets and Western United in the FFA Cup round of 32 on a yet to be confirmed date in late August.