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Date confirmed for rescheduled clash between Moana Pasifika and Western Force

Image by Marty Melville / www.photosport.nz

Moana Pasifika and the Western Force will close their Super Rugby Pacific regular seasons by playing three matches in just a week-and-a-half.

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That’s because SANZAAR have rescheduled the postponed Super Round clash between the two sides, which will now be played as a mid-week fixture in the final round of the season.

Neither team played in the inaugural Super Round in Melbourne three weeks ago after a Covid outbreak in the Force squad resulted in the postponement of their match against Moana Pasifika.

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It was the fifth time this season that a Moana Pasifika match had been postponed due to Covid, leading chief executive Pelenato Sakalia to suggest that the new expansion franchise may call on the Force to forfeit the game.

However, SANZAAR confirmed the rescheduled date for the fixture on Tuesday, announcing that the two sides will do battle at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on May 24, which falls on a Tuesday.

As such, the Force and Moana Pasifika will each be required to play three games in eight and nine days, respectively to close out their campaigns.

Moana Pasifika face the Reds in Brisbane on May 20, meaning they will have a four-day turnaround leading into their match against the Force, before then hosting the Brumbies in Auckland just four days later on May 28.

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The Force, meanwhile, face the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium on May 21, three days ahead of their bout with Moana Pasifika.

The Perth-based side will then return to Western Australia to host the Hurricanes at HBF Park four days later on May 28.

Moana Pasifika have been awarded hosting rights for the rescheduled clash as the Super Round fixtures counted as home matches for the New Zealand-based teams.

That may count against them, though, given they will encounter a far longer cross-border trip from Brisbane to Auckland to play the match compared to the Force, who only need to make the 90-minute bus trip north from Hamilton.

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The short turnarounds so late in the season may also have ramifications for the Force’s quarter-final hopes given they are one of three teams – alongside the Highlanders and Melbourne Rebels – vying for the eighth and final playoff spot.

In a statement released on Tuesday, SANZAAR chief executive Brendon Morris acknowledged the difficulties that come with rescheduling matches, and made special mention of the hardship endured by Moana Pasifika in their debut season.

“Rescheduling matches due to COVID has been disruptive for several teams this season and everyone recognises the challenges that has created for players, coaches, management and fans,” Morris said.

“On behalf of the Super Rugby Pacific competitions’ committee, I would like to acknowledge the affected teams for their understanding and in particular Moana Pasifika, who have been more affected than any other club with four rescheduled matches during their inaugural season in the competition.”

SANZAAR also confirmed the final round clash between the Fijian Drua and Chiefs, originally scheduled to be played at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on May 27, will now take place at Churchill Park in Lautoka on May 28.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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