IN ISOLATION
With the sporting schedule in disarray due to the coronavirus, how could the rest of the year – and beyond – be affected? Marvin France reports.
From Super Rugby to Supercars, surfing to mixed martial arts, there isn’t a sport that has not been affected by the coronavirus.
In New Zealand and across the world, the sports calendar has almost ground – and no one is sure when things will return to normal.
Earlier this week, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) general manager Steve Armitage said a bestcase scenario for the city was for events to resume from July. But in this rapidly changing environment, nothing is off the table, with modelling by scientists suggesting that pandemics can persist for 12 months.
As we look ahead to the rest of the sporting year and onto 2021, with three major international events coming to New Zealand, it may pay to brace for even more disruptions. Here are the major local fixtures that could be affected.
RUGBY Super Rugby/Mitre 10 Cup
With Super Rugby as we know it likely to be cancelled due to travel restrictions, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) is pressing ahead with plans for a ‘‘local derby’’ format behind closed doors. The details are still being worked through but it could potentially begin on the weekend of April 3-4 and run for 10 weeks, ensuring rugby fans and the allimportant broadcasters get their fix.
There is also the Mitre 10 Cup to consider, which kicks off in August. If NZR can get the proposed Super Rugby competition up and running, that would give the national provincial championships’ hopes of getting the green light a significant boost.
All Blacks/Black Ferns home tests, – July 4-18
The All Blacks are planning for the two-test series against Wales, followed by a one-off clash with Scotland, to go ahead. However, the prospect of those teams being cleared to travel is looking extremely unlikely.
The Black Ferns, have eight tests scheduled this year, including seven in New Zealand. Of the three that have been confirmed (against USA in Dunedin and two against Australia in Melbourne and Wellington), they would all be in serious doubt.
Rugby Championship, August 15September 26
With the southern hemisphere’s showpiece rugby tournament still five month’s away, there has been no official announcement as to how it could be affected. Should the travel restrictions be lifted, one would expect the tests to be played behind closed doors, at least. After opening the tournament against the Wallabies in Melbourne, the All Blacks play their three home games in a row from August 15 to September 5.
2021 Women’s World Cup, September 18 – October 16
One of three high-profile international events coming to New Zealand in 2021, it’s far too early to tell if the tournament, which is cohosted by Auckland and Whangarei, will be affected. With the event projected to be worth $3.6 million to the Auckland region, and $6.4 million to Whanga¯rei’s economy, it could provide some much-needed relief for local businesses should it go ahead unscathed.
YACHTING America’s Cup (March 6-21, 2021) and Prada Challenger Series (January-February, 2021)
There is still plenty of water to flow under the bridge before the America’s Cup returns to Auckland early next year, but there’s plenty more reasons to hope it goes ahead.
A 2017 economic impact assessment forecast that the iconic regatta could pump direct spending of between $519-$925 million into the region. And with hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars invested, organisers will be anxiously following developments over the coming months.
America’s Cup World Series – December 17-20
The three-regatta series, which serves as a pivotal part of the buildup to the real thing, has already suffered a blow after the opening event in Italy was cancelled. Scheduled to be held on April 23-26, the regatta was to have been the first competitive outing for the new foiling AC75s.
There has been no announcement over the fate of the second event, due to take place in England in June, with the third and final regatta, which doubles as the curtainraiser for the Prada Cup, in Auckland in December.
CRICKET Black Caps/White Ferns – MayJanuary 2021
The Black Caps’ home Twenty20 series against Australia has been postponed, but that could be just the start of disruptions for the country’s elite cricketers.
Kane Williamson and co’s next assignment is a tour of Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and the West Indies, starting in early June ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia in October. No decision has been made on that tour but all signs point to it being in serious doubt. It’s a similar story for the White Ferns’ tour of Sri Lanka in May.
Bangladesh and West Indies are scheduled to visit New Zealand in October in preparation for the T20 World Cup. The Windies then return for three tests before the Black Caps round out the home summer with two tests and three T20s against Pakistan.
Women’s World Cup, February 6–March 7, 2021
The eight-team tournament will be held right across the country, with 31 matches spread between Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Like the other two major international events scheduled for next year, organisers have time on their side. But any delay could lead to further complications from the weather.
LEAGUE Warriors, March 21–October 4
The Warriors have committed to staying in Australia to continue playing in the NRL, but chief executive Cameron George has conceded that they are unlikely to play a home game this season. All NRL clubs receive an annual grant of A$13 million, about A$10 million of which covers player salaries. But the clubs still rely heavily on memberships and gate takings to remain sustainable.
‘‘When you have things like this happening, it shuts down our business model, so we’ve got to work through that with our owners and sponsors,’’ George said this week.
Kiwis/Kiwi Ferns, June, October
New Zealand Rugby League decided yesterday to postpone the June tests between the Kiwis and Tonga and Kiwi Ferns against Samoa. The best-case scenario would be to re-schedule them in October, when the rest of the Oceania Cup is held, as well as the double-header against the Kangaroos and Jillaroos across the Tasman.
However, there’s no doubt the NRL takes priority in rugby league due to the huge broadcast revenue it brings in. While the competition is playing on behind closed doors, should there be any delay it’s likely they too would look to make up games at the end of the year, creating a potential problem for the international game.
NETBALL
Silver Ferns, September 20-October 21
The Silver Ferns aren’t scheduled to play any international matches until the Quad Series in September, with games in Hamilton and Auckland, followed by the Constellation Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
With the immediate focus on getting through the ANZ Premiership, which was suspended for two weeks yesterday, Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie said it was too soon to speculate on the national team’s fixtures.
‘‘We’re taking a view of what’s our immediate priority and that is our community game and then looking at our premiership and those national competitions,’’ Wyllie told Stuff this week.
‘‘We don’t know what the answer is going to be in June, July, August, so we’ve focused our attentions on making sure we’re looking at the goal posts in front of us.’’
MOTORSPORT Supercars, season postponed until June 5
The New Zealand round of the Supercars, scheduled for April 24-26 at Hampton Downs, was one of three races put on hold, joining last weekend’s Australian grand prix event in being delayed. But organisers are adamant they will be rescheduled for later in the year.
ATEED, which contributes $1.2 million to stage the event, would prefer to host the round in November. And it could return to Pukekohe Park Raceway given the Unitary Plan restrictions for Anzac Day, which forced the move to Hampton Downs, will not be in place.
TENNIS ASB Classic, January, 2021
New Zealand’s premier tennis tournament traditionally starts in early January, well after the ATP and WTA tours are hoping to lift their suspension on June 7. However, any further delays could lead to a hectic end-ofyear schedule – the French Open has already been postponed from May to September – which could affect the quality of field the Auckland event is able to attract.