Another twist in the Rugby Championship schedule saga

Rugby Australia now says it supported altering the draw so the tournament could be played over five weeks, as New Zealand wants in order to get home for Christmas.

However, it says on two formal occasions that was rejected so there was never an agreement to finish the competition on December 5th, as NZR had hoped.

However, Rugby Australia says no one wants players and team management to be away over Christmas.

It says it urges NZR to exhaust every possible alternative and says there are still more than two months to go before December 12th so there's plenty of time to find a solution.

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