NZ opening stadium gates

Kiwis win the race to allow unlimited crowds

RUGBY UNION:

The Kiwis just can’t stop themselves from beating their chests about beating Australia.

Not satisfied with thumping Australian rugby teams on the scoreboard, now they’re rubbing our faces in it by revealing they are set to become the first nation to resume playing sport in front of unlimited crowds – beginning this weekend.

That’s the same time the

NRL will play in front of up to 1000 fans, mostly in corporate boxes, after Peter V’landys’ tooth-and-nail battle to get that concession.

And the AFL will resume from Thursday night in front of empty stadiums four weeks before Australia’s revamped domestic Super Rugby competition kick offs, giving the Kiwis a massive headstart over

Australia’s football codes.

“We’re incredibly proud, and grateful, to be the first professional sports competition in the world to be in a position to have our teams play in front of their fans again, New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said.

“It’s going to be a ... unique competition and it’s fitting that New Zealanders now have a chance to be part of it.”

The gates will be opened to the NZ public on Saturday when the Highlanders host the Chiefs in Dunedin, then again on Sunday when All Blacks legend Dan Carter makes his comeback for the Blues against the Hurricanes in Auckland.

“The world will be watching, and we will be ready to put on a show,” Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark gushed.

“Our players, coaches and staff have been working overtime to get Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa ready and to now be able to share the competition with our members and our fans will be a very special occasion.” The decision to allow unlimited crowds to attend this weekend’s matches across the ditch came after NZ health officials confirmed the country was coronavirus-free, allowing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to lift all domestic restrictions “with a dance”.

International border controls will remain intact, but the latest news raises hope of a trans-Tasman bubble that would allow the Warriors to fly and back forth for NRL matches, and the Wallabies and All Blacks to play a four-Test Bledisloe Cup series later this year.