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NZ Super Rugby sides anticipating significant turnouts with limited crowd restrictions expected
Crowds at sporting venues will be back when New Zealand moves to alert level 1 – and possibly just in time for Super Rugby’s restart with the Aotearoa competition on June 13.
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Ahead of Cabinet’s meeting on June 8 on a potential move to level 1 next week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was the Government’s “strong desire” to move as soon as was safe and possible.
A move to level 1 would mean restrictions around gatherings at stadiums and arenas – currently capped at 100 – will be completely lifted, meaning fans could be allowed to attend games just as sports leagues around the country return.
“At level 1 all current rules on businesses and services are essentially lifted,” Ardern said.
“Sports and concert stadiums can be sold out.”
The Prime Minister said the Government is currently working with stadiums and ticketing agencies on a “Covid code”, which will allow for greater contract tracing at large events.
“All gatherings of any size can occur. However, we are working with ticketing agencies and large scale event organisers on a Covid code, whereby contact details are collected so that we can keep a track of people at large gatherings in the event that we need to follow them up for contact tracing.
“For those larger events it is a matter of preparedness for us. We may be confident that we’re an environment where we do not have Covid in circulation. But if we have a situation where even one case emerges, and it’s found that they had been in attendance at a large event, we always have to be prepared to be able to contact trace successfully.
“Which is why we want to work alongside those who put on events, large sporting events, music events, work with ticketing agencies, so that they do have information available for short periods of time to help us with contact tracing.”
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Ardern also said community sport will be able to start at level 1 without size and distancing restrictions.
But will stadiums be ready if level 2 restrictions are lifted?
Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner says he is confident they will be good to go for the Blues’ first clash of the revamped Super Rugby season against the Hurricanes on June 14.
“That’s always been the target for the team,” Sautner told NZME. “We’ve been working with the Government, with NZR, with Auckland Rugby and the Blues with a range of operational planning options.
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New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson says he hasn't ruled out the prospect of the All Blacks facing off against nations from the Pacific Islands and the Northern Hemisphere in 2020.https://t.co/JsSh2fSThd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 3, 2020
“But obviously our number one option was to enable the stadium to open, operate and potentially provide up to 3000 opportunities for employment for people who have unfortunately not able to work at Eden Park over the last couple months.”
Sautner said he hopes tickets will be available for fans to purchase shortly after the Government’s announcement.
Dunedin Venues boss Terry Davies also expressed similar optimism for games at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
“We’re ready to go if the Government and the Minister of Health give us the go ahead,” Davies told 1News.
“We’re ready to roll. It would be amazing to see a full house. Two weeks ago, we had no-one here.”
Comments on RugbyPass
1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to comments