The Rugby Championship has lost the World Cup winning Springboks.
Tournament governing body Sanzaar have confirmed the South Africans will not be travelling to Australia for the competition.
The Springboks had to leave for Australia this weekend to fulfill their quarantine requirements in time, and Sanzaar's statement said there were several factors behind the decision.
Due to South African government travel restrictions, player welfare and safety concerns, and the ongoing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on South African players both in South Africa and across their various clubs in the UK and Europe, the Springboks will remain in South Africa.
The tournament would revert back to its original Tri-Nations format, with the All Blacks, Wallabies and Argentina playing each other twice over a six week period.
South Africa's withdrawal means that the other three teams will have a bye each week of the tournament.
After this weekend's second Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park, the All Blacks will head to Australia to play the Wallabies on October 31st in Sydney and then a week later in Brisbane.
South African Rugby CEO, Jurie Roux said Sanzaar and Rugby Australia had bent over backwards to make the Rugby Championship happen and it would have been unfair on them and their partners and state government to delay a decision any longer.
The Springboks now face going into next July's British & Irish Lions series on home soil having played little or no Test rugby since their victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against England last November.
[Source: Radio NZ]
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