Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Super Rugby Pacific jeopardised by New Zealand's new border restrictions

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The inaugural edition of Super Rugby Pacific has come under threat following the announcement of New Zealand’s new border restrictions.

ADVERTISEMENT

The New Zealand Government revealed on Wednesday that New Zealand citizens and residents returning from Australia won’t have to go through MIQ from January 17, but will still be required to complete a week-long isolation from home.

From February 13, fully-vaccinated New Zealanders will be able to return to New Zealand from all other countries without going through the MIQ process, while it won’t be until April 30 that double-vaccinated foreigners will be afforded the same luxury.

Video Spacer

Reviewing the season-ending All Blacks loss to France and the Foster vs Robertson debate | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

Video Spacer

Reviewing the season-ending All Blacks loss to France and the Foster vs Robertson debate | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

That news is a positive for offshore-based Kiwis and those keen on coming into the country, but it poses an issue for New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia.

With teams entering or returning to New Zealand required to undergo seven days of home isolation, the competition has been left in an untenable position.

Unless it follows the lead of other trans-Tasman sporting competitions like the NRL, A-League and NBL by staging the entire tournament in one country, it remains to be seen how the revamped version of Super Rugby will go forth as planned.

The New Zealand-based teams in the NRL (Warriors), A-League (Wellington Phoenix) and NBL (Breakers) have played virtually all of their last two seasons in Australia under the current and previous restrictions.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, Super Rugby Pacific would face a bigger task of accomodating seven foreign teams – the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders, Highlanders, Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua – in Australia if the competition was to be solely staged there.

Likewise, it would be a significant ask to host the five Australian franchises, the Reds, Brumbies, Waratahs, Rebels and Force, as well as the Drua, in New Zealand if NZR and RA opt to hold Super Rugby Pacific, which runs from February to June, entirely out of that side of the Tasman.

New Zealand’s Minister for Sport Grant Robertson indicated that sports teams would not be granted exemptions from the seven-day isolation requirements.

“Of course I want the Super Rugby competition to take place but we’re always led by the health advice and this has been the case all the way through there hasn’t been a shift in the length of time,” Robertson said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The Ministry of Health’s advice has been consistently not to have shortened isolation times so if sports teams are going to use this it will be the same length of time.

“It’s certainly one of the issues we’re looking into. What this does do is free up a significant amount of MIQ space, so if that needs to be used by sporting teams it can be.

“Sporting teams have been able to train while they’re in MIQ so the difference between being in MIQ or a bespoke arrangement isn’t actually that significant.”

NZR’s general manager of high performance Chris Lendrum responded to Wednesday’s announcement by admitting that scheduling alterations may be necessary for next year’s competition.

“Like many other national sports organisations and businesses, we have been waiting for some direction around what the plan is for the re-opening of New Zealand’s borders,” Lendrum said, as per the New Zealand Herald.

“We are now digesting today’s Government announcement and what it means for New Zealand Rugby and our competitions in 2022.

“Today’s news has the potential to specifically affect the Super Rugby Pacific competition given it is scheduled to kick off on February 18.

“We now need to see more detail from Government and continue working on our existing contingency planning with key partners including Rugby Australia, SANZAAR and our teams.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

2 Comments
M
Martin 1076 days ago

We need to find a solution. I agree a bubble or exemption for sports team. I would really like to know this so called health advice. April 30 wow. From A Kiwi in Melbourne.

A
Andrew 1076 days ago

Couldnt sports teams be considered a bubble of their own? Isolated from the public?

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

1 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster | Autumn Nations Series All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
Search