Cancelled Blues v Crusaders will cost $1m
Highlanders v Hurricanes to go ahead this afternoon behind closed doors and under the roof in Dunedin
The Super Rugby Aotearoa match between the Blues and Crusaders at Eden Park in Auckland tomorrow has been cancelled after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed yesterday Auckland will remain at alert level 3 until August 26.
Today’s Highlanders-Hurricanes match at Dunedin’s indoor Forsyth Barr Stadium will go ahead, however, with the game to be played under level 2 restrictions, in front of no crowd and at an earlier time of
3.05pm.
The outbreak of community transmission of Covid-19 plunged the Super City into level 3 lockdown on Wednesday, while the rest of the country will remain at level 2 for a further 12 days.
As a result of the restrictions at level 3, the Blues and Crusaders clash cannot be played, with the match considered a draw and both teams awarded two points. A cancellation dents the Blues’ financial position, after admitting earlier in the week they may have gone into insolvency had crowds not been allowed.
Cancelling the game will also cost the Blues and New Zealand Rugby up to $1 million in lost revenue, as the Weekend Herald understands the
43,236 tickets sold for tomorrow’s match generates gate takings of between $800,000 and $1 million, with net profit thought to be around the $450,000 to $500,000 range.
Blues fans will also miss the chance to see Dan Carter in a Blues jersey in
2020, with Carter hoping to have made his debut against his former team.
“Ten weeks ago, we never thought we’d even have a competition, let alone one with fans,” Blues chief executive Andrew Hore said after the cancellation was announced.
“But, instead, we got nine weeks of incredible rugby, with three amazing home games and massive crowds.
“Although this news is disappointing, we need to take a step back and be grateful for what we got, what it meant to our players, our sponsors and, most importantly, to our fans.”
The Blues will be in touch with all ticketholders directly in the coming days regarding refunds.
Today’s fixture between the Highlanders and Hurricanes in Dunedin will still go ahead at the earlier kickoff time.
Under New Zealand Rugby’s level 2 protocols agreed with the Government, teams must fly in and out of cities hosting matches on the same day to limit public interaction.
As a result, the Hurricanes and several match officials will take a charter flight to Dunedin this morning and return to Wellington tonight.
In the interests of public safety both the Highlanders and stadium operator DVML have taken the decision to significantly restrict access to family members of the team only. Around 15,000 tickets were bought but sales were halted following the imposition of alert level 2 outside the Auckland metropolitan area.
“We are naturally disappointed that at alert level 2, none of our passionate supporters will be able to attend,” Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said.
Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said: “It’s great that the game will go ahead.
“We have prepared for a number of scenarios this week but health and safety for staff and players will continue to be our focus.”
New Zealand Rugby general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum was pleased there will be one final game in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
“On the flip side, we’re obviously disappointed that the BluesCrusaders match is off but we all understand and support the
Government’s decision around this.”
The extension of level 3 lockdown in Auckland also puts doubt over the North v South clash, scheduled for August 29 at Eden Park.
The Farah Palmer Cup is also scheduled to start next week with North Harbour and Counties Manukau due to host games in Auckland, with New Zealand Rugby promising a “further update in due course” on the fixtures.
All community rugby activity in the Auckland region will be put on hold until further notice.
Community rugby in the rest of the country can take place under alert level 2 guidelines.
A Black Ferns camp for players from the lower North Island and South Island which was due to take place in Christchurch from tomorrow has been cancelled.
Although this news is disappointing, we need to be grateful for what we got, what it meant to our players, sponsors and to our fans.
Blues CEO Andrew Hore