Level 1 move will start coffers ringing

Rugby fans and provincial union bean counters are celebrating New Zealand’s move to Covid-19 alert level 1 like they’ve won the Ranfurly Shield.

In Taranaki’s case, they have, and they will welcome a sellout crowd for their first defence against Otago on Sunday at Inglewood.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday that New Zealand – excluding Auckland – moved out of level 2 at midnight. That means no more 100 person bubble limits and unrestricted Mitre 10 Cup crowds as early as Friday night in Wellington when Bay of Plenty

Tony Lewis Tasman CEO

take on the home side.

Tasman chief executive Tony Lewis said the announcement was ‘‘outstanding news’’ for every union who was heading into level 1. He was optimistic of a crowd somewhere near a full house for a doubleheader in Nelson on

Saturday afternoon when the Mako takes on Waikato and Tasman tackle Otago in the Farah Palmer Cup. Lewis was at the gym yesterday when the announcement was made but when the news filtered through he was hit with multiple questions, all around the same subject.

‘‘On chorus the people said ‘when do the tickets go on sale?’’’

Taranaki Rugby business development manager Jimmy Fastier said all unions have been working behind the scenes for a level 1 shift so the gates were ready to be swung open this weekend.

Taranaki fans will need to be quicker than most when tickets go on sale at 9am today with a sellout of the Inglewood ground – with a capacity of around 4000-5000 – expected for their first Ranfurly Shield defence.

Given the level 2 restrictions during the first two rounds and being at the smaller venue due to the repairs at Yarrow Stadium, Fastier predicts the game would have been close to a sellout with or without the Ranfurly Shield.

‘‘The Shield obviously gives another layer of excitement for our fans, sponsors and members,’’ he said.

Lewis said moving to level 1 was great news for all the unions but also the rugby public who he says are desperate for live sport.

‘‘I don’t know what crowd we’ll get but I’d like to think it will be pretty close to a full house,’’ Lewis said.

‘‘We’re acutely aware that the public in the top of the south can’t wait to get to Trafalgar Park on Saturday at 2pm,’’ Lewis told Stuff. The move out of level 2 is a bonus for grassroots rugby too.

In Christchurch, the UC Championship final will be played between St Andrews College and Christchurch Boys’ High School on Saturday and in Wellington, it’s club finals day.

‘‘The bottom line is if you don’t have crowds you’re losing money,’’ Lewis said.

‘‘On chorus the people said ‘when do the tickets go on sale?’’