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In these tough Covid-19 times, there was good news for rugby fans on Monday with confirmation that New Zealand Rugby has confirmed plans to start a mini Super Rugby tournament involving its five teams.
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Starting in just under five weeks on Saturday, June 13, the Crusaders, Chiefs, Blues, Highlanders and Hurricanes will meet at home with two games scheduled over the weekend for 10 weeks (20 games total).
While not a substitute for the “real,” seeing New Zealand’s black-laden Super Rugby derbies is something worth checking out on the calendar.
Matches will be played at 07:05 (SA) on Saturday and South African supporters will have to set their alarms to start at 05:05 on Sundays.
On the first weekend (June 13-14), the Highlanders will play the Chiefs in Dunedin, while the Blues will host the Hurricanes in Auckland.
Crusaders will have a goodbye in week 1 and all matches will be played in closed stadiums.
The tournament is blessed by the governing body in the southern hemisphere, Sanzaar, which means that SA Rugby has given its go-ahead for its bitter rivals to return to the field, while at the same time depositing much-needed television sponsorship money. .
Understandably, there is a bit of envy from other rugby unions around the world, not just the remaining members of Sanzaar, who are dealing with financial difficulties in these uncertain times and have players eager to get back to ruck and meow.
This new tournament will have to meet several strict criteria, including daily symptoms and temperature controls.
NZR Executive Director Mark Robinson said they always knew they had to take the government’s lead when rugby was sure to return, and it was now critical that the sport do everything possible to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
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Summary of Covid-19 protocols for professional rugby in New Zealand at blocking level 2:
– Daily checks of symptoms and temperature by the medical staff of the team
– Ask anyone who feels bad to stay away, self-isolate, and get tested. Any illness within the family bubbles should be reported, with immediate testing for anyone with symptoms of Covid-19
– Each team will be asked to have their own contact tracking measures
– Extensive player education and management by medical staff on everything from hygiene to food preparation to equipment use.
– Strict practices of hygiene and cleanliness of both the team’s bases and the venues of the matches.
– Strict controls and records of who can access team bases and game locations.
– Encourage players and management to minimize their contacts outside the team environment and their family bubbles.
– Teams will travel on charter flights to matches and team buses will go directly from the airport to the match venue.
