Super Rugby Pacific: Moana Pasifika to play three games in less than 10 days in new schedule shuffle

Dylan Coetzee

Moana Pasifika team huddle during the Round 3 Super Rugby Pacific match between Moana Pasifika and Canterbury Crusaders at Mt. Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AAP Image/Photosport NZ, Derek Morrison) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY ** STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE, NO BOOKS **

Super Rugby Pacific organisers have announced when the new dates are for the games that were postponed in New Zealand due to Covid-19.

The increasingly busy schedule had to have games moved to accommodate the postponements, with Moana Pasifika now playing three matches in less than 10 days.

Reshuffle

The Hurricanes and Chiefs will now face up on April 3, with Highlanders and Moana Pasifika clashing on April 8. Moana Pasifika, who have been the most impacted side, play the Hurricanes on April 12, while the Crusaders clash with the Blues on April 15.

“We’ve only named one team but we’ve got a plan for what happens ahead,” Blues coach Leon MacDonald said about the hectic schedule ahead.

“I’ve learnt that things change quickly in this environment and we have to be adaptable. We have a plan in place, and we need to put three really good performances in over this next week, so trying to get that right mix is really important.”

New Zealand Rugby’s head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum released a statement about the postponements and the return of fans to stadiums.

“Confirmation of these matches provides certainty for our players, coaches, fans and venues as we make a welcome shift into something close to normal transmission,” Lendrum said.

“We will welcome fans back into our stadiums over the next week and now we can also celebrate confirmation of a full draw.”

Lendrum was convinced that player welfare was a primary consideration during the discussion to put the tournament together again and believes all clubs are “united” going forward.

“We believe we’ve landed in a good place and all six New Zealand-based teams have remained committed to ensuring all matches are played. Although the teams have lost their scheduled bye rounds through rounds 7 to 9, those rest periods have been compensated by the weeks off created by the postponements,” he said.

“Our clubs were united in wanting to play all of their matches, compete hard for competition points and ultimately playoff berths. They were also confident they could manage their squads through the balance of the competition to ensure players were in peak form for the finals.

“Moana Pasifika has, unfortunately, been most impacted with two Tuesday-Saturday match weeks, but to this point have also played the least rugby with just two matches and I know the club can’t wait to get some more regular game time in their inaugural season in Super Rugby Pacific.”

Rescheduled matches

Round 7 

Sunday, April 3
Hurricanes v Chiefs, Sky Stadium, Wellington

Round 8 

Friday, April 8
Highlanders v Moana Pasifika, Forsyth Barr Stadium

Saturday, April 9
Hurricanes v Crusaders, Sky Stadium, Wellington

Round 9 

Tuesday, April 12
Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika, Sky Stadium, Wellington

Friday, April 15
Crusaders v Blues, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch

Saturday, April 16
Chiefs v Moana Pasifika, FMG Stadium, Waikato

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