Nz domestic rugby 2020

[waiopehu oldboy]

It's official:

"A competition called Super Rugby Aotearoa involves New Zealand’s five teams - the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders – and has been developed by NZR in conjunction with Sanzaar, the Super Rugby clubs and the NZ Rugby Players’ Association (NZRPA).

"The five teams will play each other home and away over 10 weeks, with two matches every weekend. All matches will be played in closed stadiums.

"NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson confirmed players would need three to four weeks to adequately prepare with contact training before matches could commence but was hopeful games in a "best case scenario'' would be played next month.

"A working group made up of players, Investec Super Rugby clubs, Provincial Unions, the NZRPA and NZR had considered all the possible competition options and timings which were dependent on when alert levels dropped and rugby could resume.

"Robinson said they were still working through the details of the Mitre 10 Cup and Farah Palmer Cup competitions, but they wanted to preserve the integrity of these competitions where they could.
A decision on the All Blacks series in July against Wales and Scotland will be made in the next fortnight."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/300006963/professional-sport-closer-to-green-light-under-alert-level-2

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

newshub.co.nz are reporting a target start-date of 13 June.

 

[Dctarget]

I'm pretty fucking keen aye.

 

[zer0]

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_4ROfrA5EX/

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Away teams will FIFO for their matches:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...o-fly-in-and-out-on-same-day-for-away-matches

But no fans at matches means no match-day cash for the franchises:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...rugby-competition-no-golden-egg-for-crusaders

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...s-back-still-hopeful-of-opening-doors-to-fans

 

[Dan54]

I am ready!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Born ready, eh Dan

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NZ transitioning to Level 2 from midnight Wednesday & it sounds like NZR have all the return-to-training & return-to-play protocols drawn up & ready to roll out so we can expect to see some footy in four or five weeks!

EDIT: June 13 Clan v Tribe, June 14 Loss Bleus v Horrorcanes

Every Saturday at 17:05 & Sunday at 15:05 NZST for ten weeks.

Mitre 10 Cup from September 11

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12331110

 

[Dan54]

Yahaa looks like we got the jackpot, ABs in M10 cup too!! I am happiness filled!!!!!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Full draw:

Apparently Eden Park & Not Lancaster Park have yet to be signed off as meeting H&S requirements hence "Auckland" & "Christchurch".

Edit: Sky Stadium is the old Westpac.

 

[Dan54]

Couple of interesting points to consider;
kick off times by playing at 5pm and 3pm on Sat and Sun, it allows Aus rugby to be in a little better position with broadcasters when they kick off, they can also play at 5 and 3 Aus times would add value as they maybe not battling with League/AFL for TV time?
Other one that interests me is which overseas contracted players, although a lot at home it not that straight forward, will their clubs in japan etc etc allow them to play, how does it affect there taxes etc in other countries they contracted in. Certainly anyone hoping to get an international jersey overseas with residency etc won't be able to.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Being that there is no fans and it is FiFO why dont they play all games under the roof at Forsyth Barr?

 

[zer0]

I'd guess it's because there's a possibility of crowds being allowed in the later rounds.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

I'd guess it's because there's a possibility of crowds being allowed in the later rounds.

Change the locations when/if that happens.

 

[Dan54]

I'd guess it's because there's a possibility of crowds being allowed in the later rounds.

I tend to think it still gives it the home and away feel ie; the home team doesn't have to travel, but do on return match!

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

I tend to think it still gives it the home and away feel ie; the home team doesn't have to travel, but do on return match!

Playing H&A is clearly the less objectionable option (especially when putting together a comp at short notice) but I think they missed a trick. If it is only two games each weekend the surface will be fine. Give the fans watching on tv a better experience.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

SamW will turn out for CruSadists:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12331337

Lurch is staying down on the farm but Cruden has extended his contract:

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/spor...-in-late-bid-for-brodie-retallick-return.html

While of course Beaugan will finally debut for Loss Bleus v his old outfit.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...den-barrett-against-hurricanes-in-super-rugby

Update on Eden & Not Lancaster Parks not being cleared yet to host SRA matches & contrary to earlier reports it's also a money & availability thing not just H&S-related:

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/spor...g-delay-with-blues-crusaders-host-venues.html

EDIT: tvnz reporting that Nehe Milner-Skudder is a starter. Sorry, Dan, it's for Clan not your beloved 'canes:

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/spo...lner-skudder-make-super-rugby-return-new-club

 

[Dan54]

EDIT: tvnz reporting that Nehe Milner-Skudder is a starter. Sorry, Dan, it's for Clan not your beloved 'canes:

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/spo...lner-skudder-make-super-rugby-return-new-club

Yep WOB, although Canes would of pleased me up to a point, I think he will get more game time at the Clan, Canes are ok for outside backs.
Probably Hemopo would of been handy for Clan too, but as I said in another post it wasn't a taken that a lot of these players could play, same as Lurch a lot depends on their contracts overseas.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Curious how this will go.

Even when soup rugby was going full-bore the number of fucks given was obviously rapidly dwindling fast. Now they want to have some silent arena pre-seasonesque bash around with nothing but pride on the line?

Will people be so starved of sports they'll flock to this like frothing dogs? The players are literally playing to advertise their entire professional livelihood now. It could be fuckign SCINTILLATING.

Either way, who's ever going to see it outside of NZ? I've switched out all 6 of the sports channels in my cable package for extra movie channels. LOL@the silly pre-Event frivolities and pajama rubby-rubby eggball saliva playtime. How silly we all were back in those olden days of March 2020.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Yep WOB, although Canes would of pleased me up to a point, I think he will get more game time at the Clan, Canes are ok for outside backs.
Probably Hemopo would of been handy for Clan too, but as I said in another post it wasn't a taken that a lot of these players could play, same as Lurch a lot depends on their contracts overseas.

Geez Mr Reasonable could you occasionally at least pretend to be outraged "frigging Clan poachers" or some such

EDIT: Apparently 'canes made NM-S an offer, which he declined, probably for the reason you've stated i.e. in Dunners he's almost certainly in the 23 if not the XV but that's not necessarily the case in Wellywood.

tvnz now reporting that Bender is back in NZ & likely to rejoin Clan in time for SRA.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...eturn-to-highlanders-for-super-rugby-aotearoa