New Zealand said on Tuesday that the Wallabies have been granted an exemption to enter the country to play next month’s Bledisloe Cup.
Travel between Australia and New Zealand was suspended last week following the worsening of a coronavirus outbreak in Australia, putting the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship in doubt.
The Wallabies will travel from their base in Queensland on a charter flight to Auckland on Friday morning, Sports Minister Grant Robertson said in a statement.
The exemption means the Bledisloe match in Auckland can take place on Aug. 7, he said, adding that decisions on the other games are dependent on ongoing discussions between New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia.
“The Wallabies have been operating in their own bubble for some time, and will travel from their base in Queensland on a charter flight to Auckland on Friday morning. They will have to fulfil all normal obligations for travel including negative pre-departure tests within 72 hours of their travel,” Robertson said in the statement.
“This decision was not taken lightly by the Government and given the Wallabies use of a charter flight, there is no restriction on public access to a return flight to New Zealand.”