Super Rugby Pacific to have revised draw after Covid restrictions
The tournament was originally planned to kick-start on 18th February
©PA
The inaugural edition of the Super Rugby Pacific is set to have a revised draw following the latest Covid-19 disruptions.
According to the Stuff, the latest border opening plan announced by New Zealand government due to rise in cases and concerns over the new Omicron variant has complicated the chances of the tournament kick-starting with the original schedule.
Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos said the board is working with the New Zealand counterparts to have a contingency plan.
“What I can say is that our teams and the New Zealand teams are working furiously to get a revised draw,” Marinos said.
“We’re not too far away. We’re hoping that in the early part of next week we’ll be able to start communicating an adjusted draw.
“We're going to have to adjust it because of the Covid impacts. We're just waiting for further confirmation out of New Zealand in terms of understanding of what those requirements would be around their players moving in an out of Australia, as much as we are working with the guys up in Perth in terms of what are the movements out of West Australia.”
With New South Wales recoding 516 cases overnight while Victoria had 1,206 new cases including two cases of Omicron variant, it is unlikely that New Zealand will be opening their borders with Australia.
A revised schedule is expected to be unveiled next week.
Super Rugby Pacific was originally due to start on 18th February with the newcomers Moana Pasifika will be hosting Brumbies at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
