Major codes back in action
When Roger Tuivasa-sheck leads rugby league’swarriors onto Central Coast Stadium just before 5pm on Saturday, New Zealand sport will be officially back on the road again.
In New Zealand, some grassroots fields, turfs and courts will be buzzing as soon as Saturday, June 6, less than a fortnight away.
Remember what sport was like? It’s been a while, and winter codes haven’t even had round one yet as the May chill bites.
Since Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a Covid-19 level four lockdown on March 23, sport at all levels went into hibernation along with many aspects of normal life.
Now back at alert level two, and with gathering limits extended to 100 people, national sporting organisations swung back into gear to plot a safe return at all levels.
Here’s what we know about plans for the major codes to resume at all levels, from club to professional, amid Sport NZ return-to-play guidelines, health restrictions and, initially, locked down stadiums:
LEAGUE
NRL: Suspended after two rounds on March 22. Resumes on Thursday night when the Broncos host the Eels, with thewarriors chasing their first win of the season against the Dragons at their Gosford base on Saturday.
Club: New Zealand Rugby League advised its zones that June 20 was a recommended start date for club grades.
RUGBY
Super Rugby: Suspended after seven rounds on March 15. Resumes with a 10-week New Zealand-only competition on June 13 when the Highlanders host the Chiefs, with the Blues hosting the Hurricanes the following afternoon.
Club: NZ Rugby advised amay 25 to June 19 ‘prepare to play’ period, with most club competitions starting on June 20.
NETBALL
ANZ Premiership: Suspended after one round onmarch 16. Resumes on June 19 when the Magic and Mysticsmeet at the Auckland
Netball Centre which will host all matches – four per weekend.
Club: Netball NZ advised a ‘prepare to play’ period frommay 29, with competitions able to resume on or after June 19.
FOOTBALL A-league: Suspended after 23 rounds on March 24, when it was advised Wellington Phoenix would return from their temporary base in Sydney without playing amatch. A resumption date or even a return to full training is unconfirmed by Football Federation Australia, which has said it wants to complete the season by the end of August.
Club: Community football and futsal competitions are able to resume from June 6, NZ Football said on Tuesday. Capital Football (Wellington) has announced a June 6 start for senior and youth grades, with juniors resuming on June 13. Waikato-bay of Plenty Football has announced a June 6 start for junior and youth. and a June 13 start for seniors.
BASKETBALL Australian NBL: New Zealand Breakers are in their off-season.
Newzealand NBL: A revamped seven-team competition without the defending champion Wellington Saints and Southland Sharks will open on June 23, with all matches played in Auckland and spanning just six weeks with the grand final scheduled for August 1.
Club: Basketball NZ advised a ‘prepare to play’ period up until June 4 (next Thursday), after which organised community competitions can begin. School competitions, in Wellington at least, are set to start on the week of June 15-19.
HOCKEY
National Hockey Championships: The newlyannounced competition to be contested between New Zealand’s 32 associations in September (replacing the NHL) was cancelled along with all the national tournaments for 2020.
Club: Hockey NZ advised its associations of a ‘prepare to play’ period until June 6, on which competitions can begin. Capital (Wellington) and Counties-manukau are among those starting on June 6, Hockey NZ said, and some school competitions a week later.