Super Rugby Pacific, Phoenix competition plans under a cloud over Covid border decisions

The government has thrown a giant curveball at major sports competitions, with Super Rugby Pacific and the Phoenix men’s and women’s A-League plans likely to be disrupted. Sports organizations struggled to find clarity after the government released its three-stage reopening plan for the border on Wednesday. Starting January 17, fully vaccinated New Zealanders returning from Australia can skip the quarantine in favor of self-isolation. Fully vaccinated kiwis will be able to visit most other countries from February 14th and be isolated at home when they return. Ian Hitchcock / Getty Images Super Rugby Pacific’s schedule is at risk after the government’s border announcement on Wednesday. And from April 30th, New Zealand will reopen to all fully vaccinated foreigners – not just New Zealanders or residents. Read More Need to know the limit * NZ Rugby convinced players are annoyed before the start of Super Rugby Pacific * Super Rugby Pacific: All blacks for the first round and double headers in Melbourne Some Australian teams are nominated for competitions in New Zealand at the end of January, February and March. Even if they are let in, they face a seven-day isolation period, which will have a major impact on the weekly competitions. Super Rugby Pacific has scheduled Australian teams to play in New Zealand in February and March and vice versa for Kiwi teams. In the proposed second round, all teams would play in Melbourne. Ashley Feder / Getty Images The Wellington Phoenix are currently based in New South Wales, but wanted to play home games in New Zealand from the end of January. Sports Secretary Grant Robertson said there were no changes to the existing process for international sports teams to seek group assignment for MIQ to enter New Zealand. “We are aware of the impact on franchises and national sports organizations that transtasmanian competitions have proposed, and we are working with them to understand that impact and determine a path forward,” he said in a statement to Stuff. “The government will continue to monitor and review border settings to determine when it is safe and appropriate to return to quarantine.” Robertson told reporters in Parliament that the government’s commitment to seven-day home isolation was firm. “Of course I want the super rugby competition to take place, but we always rely on the health advice to guide us,” he said. “The advice of the Ministry of Health was consistently not to shorten the isolation time. “So if sports teams use (self-isolation) it will be the same length of time.” New Zealand rugby said the news could affect Super Rugby Pacific. “Like many other national sports organizations and companies, we have been waiting for guidance on the plan to reopen New Zealand’s borders. We are now digesting today’s government announcement and what it means for New Zealand rugby and our competitions in 2022, ”said Chris Lendrum, NZR General Manager for Professional Rugby and High Performance Sports. “Today’s news has the potential to specifically affect the Super Rugby Pacific competition as it is slated to begin on February 18th. We now need to learn more details from the government and continue to work on our existing contingency planning with key partners such as Rugby Australia, Sanzaar. work and our teams. ”Albert Perez / Getty ImagesThe Warriors will not be affected by Wednesday’s announcement. The Phoenix men and women will play home games at Wollongong, New South Wales, earlier this season, but the men had set out to play up to nine games in New Zealand from January 29th. The women hoped to play two to three games in New Zealand as a double header with the men. The men also hoped to be stationed in Wellington as soon as possible and are temporarily stationed in Sydney, although the women were supposed to operate from Wollongong all season. A Phoenix spokesperson said the club is evaluating “the latest announcement” and is having discussions with Sport NZ along with other sports codes. The Breakers are also looking for clarity as they are due to return to New Zealand on Feb.5 for the first of 14 home games in the Australian NBL competition. New Zealand NRL club The Warriors will not be materially affected due to its Redcliffe headquarters. Queensland for the 2022 season. The Warriors are hoping to bring five games back to Auckland but the first isn’t until June 15. The announcement means that no overseas fans will be attending the Women’s Cricket World Cup, but organizers were expecting it anyway. Overseas teams are booked as part of the allocation process for sports groups. More than 26,000 tickets were sold for the event and hospitality tickets for the finals at Hagley Oval in Christchurch are already sold out. “It is clear that next year people will be ready for a big global event.” Wednesday marks 100 days after the start of the World Cup. Covid-19 Response Secretary Chris Hipkins said Wednesday the April schedule for overseas visitors “does not preclude us from moving early with certain groups if it is safer, and there may well be opportunities to do so. So I wouldn’t rule out things with Australia. ”

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