NZ Super Rugby teams relocated to secure hub

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has relocated its Super Rugby Pacific squads to Queenstown to mitigate against the risk of Covid-19.

Chris Lendrum, NZR's general manager of professional rugby and performance, said in a statement that the move would provide the best chance of the inaugural season of Super Rugby Pacific kicking off as scheduled on Friday 18 February.

"Under current Covid-19 regulations it would only take one positive case entering a squad environment to shut down an entire squad for 10 days. The knock-on effect for the rest of the competition would be the postponement or cancellation of matches," Lendrum said.

"By moving the teams to a secure hub, we believe we have a good chance of preventing a Covid-19 infection, or close contact event, side-lining one of our teams for a prolonged period. The plan is currently for the teams to move to Queenstown early next week and remain in Queenstown for the opening three weeks of the competition."

The Blues, Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika and Chiefs will fly to Queenstown on charter flights, while the Crusaders and Highlanders will head there by bus over the weekend.

NZR added that the squads would operate in separate bubbles with exclusive use of training facilities in the Queenstown area.

Day matches will be played in Queenstown at the Wakatipu Rugby Club, while teams will travel by bus to and from Rugby Park in Invercargill for night matches.

Lendrum stressed the move to Queenstown was seen as a temporary measure with plans in place for teams to return to their home bases and regular venues in March.

"We are committed to bringing the teams home in early-March regardless of the Covid-19 landscape," he said.

"We realise there is a significant sacrifice in leaving whanau behind to play