NZ beats world as fans return
Super Rugby Aotearoa will welcome back fans from round one and Dunedin will lead the world.
Shortly after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that New Zealand was moving to Alert level 1, New Zealand Rugby confirmed that the doors to Forsyth Barr Stadium will be open when the Highlanders start the competition against the Chiefs on Saturday.
Auckland’s Eden Park will also welcome in fans for the Blues’ much-awaited match against the Hurricanes on Sunday.
There is another tweak, in that Saturday games will kick off at 7.05pm. It was initially a 5.05pm start when teams were required to fly in and out of the host city on the day under plan A.
Sunday matches are pushed back 30 minutes to 3.35pm kickoffs, as Super Rugby Aotearoa becomes the first top-level sporting competition on the planet to welcome back fans after the coronavirus pandemic.
NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson also welcomed the news, with tickets to HighlandersChiefs game and the BluesHurricanes game at Eden Park on Sunday going on sale soon.
‘‘It is a testament to all New Zealanders that we are in a position to lift restrictions on mass gatherings and it’s a massive boost for Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘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. It’s going to be a very special and unique competition and it’s fitting that New Zealanders now have a chance to be part of it.’’
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark had initially hoped to get fans back in August, but New Zealand’s success against the coronavirus means that they can return well ahead of schedule, giving the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition a huge boost.
Clark said the game promised to be a ‘‘special occasion’’.
‘‘The world will be watching, and we will be ready to put on a show. 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.’’
Blues chief executive Andrew Hore said it was a huge boost for the franchise.
‘‘This is a great boost for the franchise and the region as a whole,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s been a tough time for everyone over the past few months, so to be able to provide some rugby, some entertainment at a world class level and a day out for sports fans and families will be magic.’’
NZR head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum said of the change of kickoff times: ‘‘With the return of community sport, we wanted to give our many fans involved in Saturday sport time to finish up their games, get ready to head out, and then across town to our venues. We’re excited to be able to provide some daytime Sunday rugby in 2020.
‘‘With the change to level 1 our teams can now prepare normally for matches, rather than asking them to fly in and out on match day.’’
NZR and all five clubs would be encouraging fans to use the QR codes displayed at match venues to enable effective contact tracing, Lendrum said.