New Zealand will become the first country to resume professional rugby union games next weekend as governments around the world move to ease lockdown measures to fight the novel coronavirus.
All eyes will be on the ten-week Super Rugby Aotearoa competition organised by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) as others seek to resume sporting activities after these were halted due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The tournament, which involves New Zealand’s five teams, starts next Saturday in Dunedin and is aimed at filling the gap left by the postponement of the international competition Super Rugby, which is unlikely to restart this season.
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Super Rugby Aotearoa is likely to take place initially without fans present, like the NRL and other sports that have resumed in Australia.
But this could change if New Zealand, which has been among the most successful countries in containing the virus, announces further easing of restrictions at a government meeting on Monday.
A public health expert told Reuters that any reopening was likely to be cautious and gradual.
“I would imagine they would start in a relatively closed stadium situation and then maybe have a small number to check if there are any issues,” said Professor Brian Cox, an epidemiologist at the University of Otago in a recent interview.
“We have to do it in a very slow, measured way to make sure that we’re not making an error that results in a major outbreak again.”
New Zealand has had no new infections in the last 16 days and has just one active case.
The competition will provide some much needed cash flow for New Zealand Rugby, who are forecasting a 70 per cent decline in revenue this year.
The tournament is also likely to be a proving ground for the resumption of Test matches towards the end of the year, even if they are confined to clashes between the southern hemisphere nations.
Rugby Australia has suggested hosting a hub to allow the Wallabies, Springboks, All Blacks and Pumas to play a fixture-congested Rugby Championship.
Jacko
Guest
I love the 30min versions of a whole game. Always watch a full game first up but record the "mini" version for later watching
moondoggie
Roar Rookie
I suspect both parties were very keen to get it sorted before this weekend. I am sure I'm not alone in cancelling my kayo subscription during lockdown. But with today's announcement I promptly signed up again. This will attract the wider rugby fans/NZ expats now too. Kayo is actually an awesome product, let's hope we see some great rugby for the rest of 2020. Go Brumbies!
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
moondoggie, is spot on here. Good call mate.
Cuzziebro
Guest
I’m cancelling my Foxtel subscription - I am paying for something they are no longer providing - very poor all round
Micko
Roar Rookie
Yes, good point Jacko. I’m on the Internet far more than watching TV. I often prefer watching 5-10 mins highlights videos than watching the whole thing, and I guess so do others.
Jacko
Guest
i see they have now put programing into those spots so its looking like they wont be covering it or they are playing games with us fans
Jacko
Guest
Micko I dont think its just Kiwi's...I think the whole generation of TV watchers from the 00s onwards is loosing interest in watching all sports...And thats a world wide thing not just an Aus...Kiwi thing
Micko
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, poor choice of words. I pretty much blame Foxtel for their own woes, and don’t really have much sympathy for them. I’m just noticing the discrepancy that a huge number of kiwis live here now (around 650,000 now!) yet we don’t see that translate to Foxtel subscriptions or decent rugby union ratings on the platform. It makes me curious if kiwis attitude towards pay tv changes when they move to Australia. I say this because apparently super rugby and most other rugby can only be seen in NZ on pay tv (Sky), so I wonder if kiwis in NZ are reluctant to pay to watch super rugby & other rugby comps?
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
OK but when you state "Kiwis are a big part of the problem" it sounds like a blame game.
Double Agent
Guest
"Foxtel was started on the back of Expat kiwi’s back in the 90s." It's amazing the stuff you can learn on the Roar! :laughing: :laughing:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Not blaming, just stating facts. The kiwis are on here on rugby union threads, and several of these kiwis unsurprisingly live here. The money that rugby gets from broadcasting goes to Sanzaar, who share the money, so that doesn't just hurt Australian rugby, but NZ too. Most of these kiwis have come here in the last 20 years, but ironically Foxtel's subscriber base is decreasing, yet ratings show people who have Foxtel aren't watching union, but more league & AFL. So that makes me wonder since as far as I'm aware rugby union is behind a paywall in NZ too, so were these kiwis Sky customers in NZ, willing to pay for it in NZ?
Colin Fenwick
Guest
"[why] aren’t kiwis subscribing to Foxtel" Source?
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Maybe the ones who came over don’t like rugby. Or maybe they do like rugby but not the low standard shown here. I’m not sure blaming the kiwi expats for not signing up to Foxtel is a fair call. I’d think there’s a lot more Australian rugby supporters pulling out of Foxtel than expat Kiwis.
Lara
Guest
The NZ public going to level 1 will result in test like crowds. They have been locked up for so long , that these games will be a time to let out some steam. They will celebrate their rugby, like they deserve to celebrate their success to combat C 19 .....keep safe, you guys deserve it.
allblackfan
Guest
still time. Fox Sports place holders for that time frame are still vacant (TUES) so I'm guessing they're still talking about it. This may involve having to talk to NZ directly.
Andrew Johnson
Guest
If true piss poor form by fox and kayo might cancel my subscription
Long Retired Lock
Guest
I just asked the KAYO webchat if they were showing it and was told no but that programming is subject to change. I asked they provide feedback that there are a lot of us who want to watch it and that it is the only reason I have maintained my subscription. If enough of us ask for it, maybe it will be shown?
Brett McKay
Expert
All pooled as I understand. SANZAAR own and sell the rights, not Rugby AU..
moondoggie
Roar Rookie
Interesting. I had assumed they would be packaged...even though it's a different product now, NZ games could provide double the content each week so value add to both parties. And I hoped the lack of communication may be explained by ongoing contract negotiations. But I suppose it depends on how each countries' rights have been negotiated with SANZAAR and local broadcasters. Do you know how that worked prior to lockdown? IE did the annual fee Foxtel paid for all SR go directly to Rugby AU? Or was that money pooled into SANZAAR with the other countries and then distributed?
Micko
Roar Rookie
Fair enough Jacko. The facts are it's still baffling though as I've seen NZ domestic rugby, SA domestic rugby, European rugby comps, plus the fact most of SR isn't even aussie teams, so why, with a smorgasbord of rugby on offer, aren't kiwis subscribing to Foxtel, since most of the rugby commentators won't be aussie anyway?