Canes boss wants the fans back too
The first part of Avan Lee’s dream outcome for 2020 has been realised with the news that Super Rugby has been all but green-lighted for a midJune New Zealand-only resumption.
Now the Hurricanes boss waits on tenterhooks over whether he can get the other component of his ideal scenario over the line and open his doors to fans some time before the competition concludes at the end of August.
He is not without hope, even though the conservative approach to battling this Covid-19 pandemic seems to conspire against him.
Over the initial period at least, while restrictions on the size of gatherings remain in place, the hybrid Super Rugby competition, to be played out over 10 weeks (two full rounds, home and away) in a league-style format (no finals), will be behind closed doors. Matches will be played under strict health protocols with essential personnel only allowed at grounds, understood to be capped at 100 among the non-playing environment.
That leaves members and fans restricted to armchair viewing only and franchises severely limited in terms of revenue gains. Clubs make most of their income from gate-takings and though the mooted resumption, which will be rubber-stamped once the Government announces the timetable for the return to alert level 2, will have some benefits in terms of sponsorship, there remains a desire to open the gates if at all possible.
‘‘We’re delighted,’’ Lee told Stuff of a decision that had put a spring in the step of rugby folk. ‘‘It’s been a difficult time for everybody in New Zealand and we’ve just been in a waiting game of uncertainty.
‘‘We’re still not 100 per cent sure when and what training will look like, but we know we’ll be able to play rugby under alert level 2, and a lot of people are very happy at the Hurricanes today and I’m sure our fans and members see it the same way.’’
Lee confirmed the players would need three to four weeks to be match ready and accepted that the franchises would be fully guided around their four home matches by the Government’s health protocols.