NZ-only competition in pipeline
New Zealand Rugby have reportedly drawn up an emergency plan for a Kiwi-only replacement competition to start next month if Super Rugby is cancelled because of the worldwide coronavirus outbreak.
The competition is suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which yesterday also saw the cancellation of most community sport in New Zealand — including all club rugby.
There is a significant chance the competition could be scrapped as the New Zealand Government’s strict travel restrictions would make it impossible for the Super Rugby teams, which come from five countries, to complete their schedule.
TVNZ’s 1News last night reported NZR have created a contingency plan for their own 10-week competition, which would consist of New Zealand teams, playing their games behind closed doors.
The teams would face each other twice, with two byes, and All Blacks would not be rested given they would have already had a break due to the Super Rugby suspension.
The new competition — if it comes into being — would reportedly begin when the Highlanders’ self-isolation period ends in two weeks.
News of the mooted competition comes shortly after NZR announced its decision to postpone all club and community rugby until Saturday, April 18.
While the postponement includes all rugby matches, non-contact training activities could continue, NZR said in a statement.
“All team-based activity will be adapted to comply with the limits the Ministry [of Health] has set.
“This includes minimising personto-person contact and maintaining hygiene standards including not sharing drink bottles, washing hands and regularly cleaning rugby equipment.
“It is a difficult decision for our organisation to make but it is important that we do this in the interests of the health of all rugby participants.”
School and most junior club rugby competitions start in early May and are therefore unaffected by the postponement at this stage.
Earlier, Netball New Zealand had also postponed all competitions, including social leagues, until at least May.
A meeting with Netball NZ and the country’s five zones have seen an advisory delivered to all centres and competition organisers affiliated to Netball NZ, with a decision to postpone all winter competitions until at least Saturday, May 2.
This includes pre-season programmes, tournaments, workshops and other community competitions, including social leagues already in progress.
Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie said the advisory to centres would be effective immediately.
“We are liaising with government officials at national and regional levels in both health and sport, monitoring developments and will be reviewing the above advisory dependent on the changing environment,” she said.
The Maadi Cup, one of the biggest school events in the Southern Hemisphere, was also cancelled as School Sport New Zealand suspended all events on its national calendar as a result of the outbreak.