All rugby games in New Zealand this weekend, both professional and amateur, have been cancelled.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand Rugby has announced that due to the level four lockdown, the men's National Provincial Championship (NPC), the women's Farah Palmer Palmer Cup (FPC), Heartland Championship matches, as well as all community, club and school rugby has been cancelled or postponed.
The next rounds of the NPC, FPC and Heartland Championship will be rescheduled to be played at a later date.
No community rugby is to be played at any level however Provincial Unions and their local organising bodies will determine whether those matches are cancelled or postponed.
Auckland and Coromandel will remain at Alert Level four for seven days, while the rest of New Zealand is at Alert Level four for at least three days.
NZR General Manager Community Rugby Steve Lancaster said the decision had been made in consultation with Provincial Unions and the Players' Association in the interests of wider public safety due to the latest COVID-19 community outbreak.
"Although it could be possible to play competitions and matches outside of Auckland and Coromandel if the COVID Alert Levels fell to Level 2 before Saturday, with level 4 restrictions not being lifted until midnight Friday at the earliest, we believe the responsible decision is to make an early call and keep people away from our fields and venues this weekend.
"We understand this decision will be disappointing for some of our stakeholders but are confident the rugby community will once again act in unity to play our part in keeping Aotearoa safe."
NZR's decision means round three of the NPC, the opening round of the Heartland Championship, and rounds six and seven of the FPC Championship and Premiership respectively, will now be played at a later date in the competition.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Rescheduled match timings will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Lancaster said NZR would review the status of all competitions beyond this weekend after the Government's next COVID update on Friday.
"Like all New Zealanders we will be guided by the Government and health authorities over the next seven days."
-RNZ