Historic Super Rugby opener between Moana Pasifika and Blues postponed after COVID-19 outbreak

The opening game of the new Super Rugby Pacific season has been postponed after several players tested positive for COVID-19.

The game was supposed to be the debut of the new Moana Pasifika side, who are entering the competition this year with the Fijian Drua.

Moana Pasifika was set to open their inaugural season against the Auckland-based Blues in Dunedin next Friday.

However, several players tested positive to COVID-19, with the team now isolating in Queenstown.

The outbreak has forced changes to the final preseason trial matches scheduled for the New Zealand-based teams this weekend.

In a statement released by the competition, Super Rugby said it would try and find options to reschedule the fixture.

No other matches from next week's opening round have been affected. 

«All members of the other five New Zealand-based Super Rugby Pacific squads have tested negative for COVID-19 and will continue preparations for the start of the season, including preseason fixtures in Queenstown this weekend,» the statement read. 

After Super Rugby splintered following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia and New Zealand held their own competitions over the past two seasons.

In 2021 following each countries competition, a secondary Super Rugby season was held with each team getting to play all the other teams from their neighbouring country. 

The Blues won the six-week trans-Tasman competition after the Queensland Reds and the Crusaders won the Australian and New Zealand competitions respectively.

In 2022, Super Rugby Pacific will be a 12-team competition with five teams from Australia and New Zealand, along with Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua.