(Reuters) -New Zealand have cancelled their home Rugby Championship tests against South Africa due to COVID-19 restrictions and will not travel to Perth for their match against Australia next week, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said on Friday.

The All Blacks were to face South Africa in Dunedin on Sept. 25 and at Eden Park in Auckland on Oct. 2 but the New Zealand government had advised NZR that the Springboks would not be permitted to enter the country.