Hopes are rising for ‘crowds’ of several hundred to watch top line rugby’s return in just over a fortnight in New Zealand, with Eden Park’s chief executive confident of welcoming back an increasing number of fans within Covid-19 restrictions.
As the five New Zealand sides prepare for Super Rugby Aotearoa, stadium bosses and NZ Rugby are working through a range of crowd scenarios for opening weekend on June 13th in Dunedin and the following day in Auckland.
By the latter stages of the 10-week competition there is optimism among chief executives that full crowds will be permitted.
As it currently stands, the Highlanders and Chiefs will run onto Forsyth Barr Stadium in front of team management, stadium staff, television crew and media.
The same applies to Eden Park on June 14, and the much-awaited Blues v Hurricanes and battle of the Barretts. June 22 is the earliest the Government will entertain a move to alert level 1 and gatherings of 500-plus.
