New Zealand Rugby has announced that it will not be following the World Rugby proposals limiting players contact.
WR’s scheme includes banning scrum resets, prohibiting mauls, forbidding team huddles, and vetoing upright tackles in the Super Rugby Aotearoa happening in June. The plan is not a prerequisite for playing, though. WR said that these are simply moves being considered to reduce the chance of transmitting the novel coronavirus COVID-19, and the final decision will be left to national bodies.
The WR Medical Group also wants scrums replaced, mauls removed completely, lineouts to be uncontested, and spitting and team huddles being scrapped altogether. Players should also change their headgear and kits at half-time, they say.
But NZR Chief Executive Officer Mark Robinson has said that none of these rules will be in place when the new local competition kicks off on the 13th of June. He explained that there are no signs of community transmission here, so our country has a different set of circumstances that need to be considered.
Robinson said that NZR has been open with WR about this and that the governing body understands our unique situation. He says that this doesn’t mean that health risks won’t be taken seriously, though, and that stringent protocols are being followed as set out by Kiwi public health authorities.
These include daily temperature and symptoms checks, rigorous hygiene and cleaning habits, and contact tracing practices. He added that anyone feeling unwell is to stay away, self-isolating and getting tested at once.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ladbrokes |  | 5/5 | 100% Match up to $250 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.9/5 | 100% Match | Bet now |
More About Trent Wilson
Trent Wilson is OnlineBetting.nz’s resident sports news expert. He draws on his extensive sporting knowledge, his qualification in sports management and his passion for betting to provide the latest, most up to date information on sporting events in New Zealand and across the globe. Trent is a veritable treasure trove of sports information and has been betting online for several years. He prides himself in keeping his readers informed, and in always offering an unbiased standpoint that reflects exactly what’s going on in the sports world.
View Posts - Visit WebsiteYou May Also Like:
Black Ferns Two Years Without Test Rugby
By the time New Zealand’s Black Ferns get to play test rugby again, they’ll have gone two years without playing as much as a single test match. Such has been the impact of the ongoing global crisis on the sporting calendar. An overseas tour is possibly in the offing for ….
Sevens Star Says She’s Dreaming Of Whistle
So eager has Sevens star Rubi Tui become to get back to playing sport that she’s started to hear a whistle in her dreams. New Zealand’s Black Ferns Sevens have been severely impacted by the global sports hiatus – and perhaps more so than most other national NZ sporting teams. ….
No Use Sulking Says Hurricanes Hooker
Dane Coles says there’s no cause to be made for crying over spilt milk and that what the Hurricanes really need right now is an honest approach – from players as well as coaches. The Hurricanes hooker recently commented on a disappointing Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign that saw the franchise ….
Rob Penney Blamed For Waratahs Decline – And Sacked
After 18 months of coaching the Waratahs, Rob Penney has been shown the door. This comes after the team experienced five consecutive loses in the beginning of the year. This dire record has been a shocker for fans and bettors alike, and now the team has taken action. However, Penney ….
Mose Masoe Opens Up About Injury Struggles
Kiwi-born former rugby league powerhouse Mose Masoe has for the first time really opened up about the severity of the career-ending spinal injury he sustained nearly 14 months ago. The 31-year-old suffered the injury while competing in a preseason friendly, damaging two vertebrae in a seemingly harmless tackle. Even though ….