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NZR doctor explains why a positive coronavirus case won't halt Super Rugby Aotearoa

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Rugby’s return to action won’t be blighted by the vaccination row which has hit the NRL.

But don’t expect to see your favourite All Black socialising wildly when bars open next week.

While there will be no hard and fast rules around getting the flu vaccination, New Zealand’s Super Rugby players will face tougher Covid-19 bubble restrictions than the general population.

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New Zealand Rugby’s acting medical advisor Deb Robinson also said that the national Super Rugby competition which starts mid-June would not be halted by a positive test among the players.

The NRL is wrestling with the vaccination issue, after some players refused to get a jab. The matter is further complicated by different state guidelines in Australia.

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Scott Sio briefs media

Wallaby prop Scott Sio has offered his qualified support for a scrum clock to be trialled during a planned domestic competition in Australia.

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Scott Sio briefs media

Wallaby prop Scott Sio has offered his qualified support for a scrum clock to be trialled during a planned domestic competition in Australia.

Robinson, the former All Black doctor, said NZR was recommending the players and management get a vaccination.

One of the reasons is the importance of keeping everyone healthy – any sort of illness required testing and isolation.

“Our recommendation is that players and management get the vaccination but it is a personal choice and it is important they have informed consent,” she said.

“Sometimes people’s reluctance dates back to the idea they could get flu from it … [the aim is] to get as many players and management vaccinated as possible.”

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When asked what the ramifications were should a player test positive, Robinson said: “It is very situation-dependent, who it is, how they present, how many close contacts they’ve had, where they are, what part of the week, how many days they might have been in contact with people.

“I don’t think it will stymie the whole competition … of course the Ministry of Health and public health units would essentially look after all the contact tracing.

“If we were to get a positive test the system would work really well for us … that’s not to say we wouldn’t get a hiccup but I don’t think it would stop the competition.

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“We’ve asked the players to keep their personal bubbles smaller than what they would necessarily have done so in level 2 because that also decreases the risk of what comes into the environment. So we are holding them to slightly higher standards than the general public.”

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As for community rugby, Robinson said it could restart using small units in training, but no crowds were allowed.

NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said rugby wanted to provide “leadership, hope and inspiration” for New Zealanders.

The NRL restart has been hit by player problems, most notably the close quarters partying antics of poster boy Nathan Cleary.

Mark Robinson said: “We want to do New Zealand proud – people around the world are following our lead.

“It’s critical we do it well.”

Mark Robinson said a trophy had not yet been created for the New Zealand Super Rugby competition.

NZR was committed to the women’s game but he could not give a timeline for a restart. It also wanted to get everything in order for hosting next year’s World Cup.

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Bull Shark 18 minutes ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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