Archives for April 2020

Coronavirus: All club and community rugby postponed until April 18

New Zealand Rugby has postponed all club and community rugby until April 18 to combat coronavirus.

The decision is effective immediately.

rugby

“The postponement includes all rugby matches,” said a statement from New Zealand Rugby. “Non-contact training activities can continue at least in the short term while we continue to monitor the situation with the Ministry of Health.”

“All team-based activity will be adapted to comply with the limits the Ministry has set. This includes minimising person-to-person contact and maintaining hygiene standards including not sharing drink bottles, washing hands and regularly cleaning rugby equipment.

“It is a difficult decision for our organisation to make but it is important that we do this in the interests of the health of all rugby participants.”

“The well-being of our players, coaches, referees, volunteers, supporters and the wider New Zealand community is our top priority. And, while this will be disappointing for many, postponing rugby for the time being is in everyone’s best interests.”

“Rugby plays an important role in New Zealand communities and at this time of uncertainty the postponement of rugby matches allows everyone to pause, and take care of themselves and their whanau. It also gives the Provincial Unions and local competition organisers the opportunity to regroup, reschedule and determine how they can deliver meaningful competition when rugby resumes.

“School rugby and in most cases junior club rugby competitions start in early May and are therefore unaffected by the postponement at this stage.

“Given the situation with COVID-19 is constantly changing we continue to ask everyone involved in rugby to support one another and follow the official government guidelines, and we will also be reviewing activity daily bases on this advice.”

All Blacks finalise home fixtures for 2020 international calendar

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) have announced the venues and dates for the All Blacks season, with Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Hamilton set to share hosting rights for the six home tests.

The All Blacks play Wales in Auckland on July 4 – a fitting venue for new Wales head coach and former Auckland and North Harbour coach Wayne Pivac.

The All Blacks are expected to announce Steve Hansen’s successor later this month – with Ian Foster and Scott Robertson believed to be the front-runners.

All Blacks Rugby home fixtures

All Blacks v Wales , 7.35pm, Saturday 4 July, Eden Park, Auckland
All Blacks v Wales, 7.35pm, Saturday 11 July, Sky Stadium, Wellington
All Blacks v Scotland, 7.35pm, Saturday 18 July, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
All Blacks v Australia, 7.35pm, Saturday 15 August, Sky Stadium, Wellington
All Blacks v Argentina, 7.35pm, Saturday 29 August, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
All Blacks v South Africa, 7.35pm, Saturday 5 September, Eden Park, Auckland

Wallabies will play Ireland at Suncorp Stadium in July 2020

The Qantas Wallabies will play Ireland in a Rugby International Test Match at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 4 July 2020. Ireland travel to Australia to face the Wallabies in a two test tour in July, 2020. This is the first year that the international summer rugby matches will be played in July rather than June.

All three of our tour packages include 5* hotels throughout and include the Test match locations of Brisbane and Sydney plus the stunning Blue Mountains. You can then choose to extend your tour and travel to either Adelaide and Perth or to stunning Fiji!

Our RTI tour ambassador Donal Lenihan will once again be on tour with us and is looking forward to meeting up with everyone.

We are happy to quote for an alternative airport departure ex Ireland or the UK.

Have your own flights? No problem – simply reduce the tour cost by €1,300pp.

Qantas Wallabies v Ireland – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – Saturday 4th July 2020
Qantas Wallabies v Ireland – Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney – Saturday 11th July 2020