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Super Rugby Pacific matches in doubt as Covid hits Blues and Highlanders
By Alex McLeod
Two of this weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific matches are in doubt as Covid continues to wreak havoc with New Zealand franchises.
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A week after the Hurricanes were forced to postpone its fixture with Moana Pasifika due to an outbreak of the virus within their environment, the Blues and Highlanders both face similar fates this weekend.
The two sides faced each other at North Harbour Stadium in Albany last Friday, with the Blues running out 32-20 victors, but both teams could be sidelined in round five following confirmation of growing numbers of Covid cases in their respective camps.
A Highlanders spokesperson said on Tuesday that training had been cancelled for the day, as had the team’s scheduled media session, but added that no decision has yet been made about Friday’s clash with Moana Pasifika.
“Due to a growing number of Covid cases across players and staff we have taken the precaution of cancelling todays training and media session. At this point there has been no decision made on Friday’s game,” the spokesperson said in an email.
That doesn’t bode well for Moana Pasifika, who have already had three of their four season-opening fixtures in their debut Super Rugby Pacific campaign postponed due to Covid.
Two of those matches, against the Blues and Chiefs, have been rescheduled as mid-week matches to be played over the coming weeks.
That leaves the competition newcomers with a backlogged fixture list that will see them play three games in eight days between March 25 and April 2, as well as two games in four days between April 12 and April 16.
Should this weekend’s match against the Highlanders also be postponed, Moana Pasifika will have to find room to play that match, as well as the Hurricanes game that was due to take place in Wellington last Saturday, later in the season.
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Blues chief executive Andrew Hore, meanwhile, issued a statement on Tuesday to confirm that Covid is evident within his franchise, which has led to this weekend’s clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch to come under review.
“The Blues can confirm that Covid is further impacting our squad,” Hore said.
“We are currently working through the full impacts of this situation, including in regards to this week’s fixture against the Crusaders.
“Both the Crusaders and New Zealand Rugby are fully aware of the current situation. We hope to be in a position to add details by tomorrow.”
If that match is also postponed, the Blues will likely have to play the Crusaders another mid-week fixture later in the year after already being pencilled in to play cross-town rivals Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on Tuesday, March 29.
As things stand, Sunday’s clash between the Hurricanes and Chiefs in Wellington, which has already been rescheduled to allow the hosts enough preparation time following their Covid outbreak, will go ahead as planned.