Fixture reshuffle for desperate Super Rugby

NEWS: The Super Rugby Pacific Round Two draw has been reshuffled in New Zealand to give Moana Pasifika the best chance of being able to play their scheduled match against the Chiefs.

The announced changes do not affect the draw for any round two matches played in Australia.

Moana Pasifika’s first-round match against the Blues was postponed when the squad was forced into isolation at their Queenstown hotel on February 9, after members of their group tested positive for COVID-19.

The first cohort of Moana Pasifika players and management were approved by New Zealand Public Health to leave isolation Sunday and resume training.

New Zealand Rugby said it will continue to work with Moana Pasifika to ensure players have adequate time to safely prepare for their rescheduled match against the Chiefs.

“Player safety and wellbeing will be the number one priority as the team returns to training,” a statement from NZ Rugby said.

Moana Pasifika’s Round Two match against the Chiefs was originally scheduled to be played in Dunedin on Friday, February 25, but will now be played two days later in Queenstown on Sunday, February 27.

“Moana Pasifika continue to follow all health advice as they complete their isolation and have been making plans for a return to training once health authorities have released them from isolation,”NZ Rugby General Manager Professional Rugby and Performance Chris Lendrum said.

“We are not able to discuss details of Moana Pasifika’s COVID cases but the new schedule for Round 2 provides Moana Pasifika with the best possible opportunity to prepare for a return to play.

“We are also continuing to work with our joint venture partners Rugby Australia, and our broadcasters to reschedule the postponed first-round match between the Blues and Moana Pasifika and will make an announcement in due course.”

The revised Round Two schedule also means the Highlanders versus Crusaders has moved forward 24 hours, while the Blues versus Hurricanes match also shifts forward one day, with a change of venue and kick-off time.

The revised draw for Round Two is:

* Friday, February 25 – 19.05 NZ Time – Highlanders v Crusaders – Dunedin
* Saturday, February 26 – 19.05 NZ Time – Blues v Hurricanes – Dunedin
* Sunday, February – 15.35 NZ Time – Chiefs v Moana Pasifika – Queenstown Recreation Reserve (Wakatipu club)