Super Rugby Aupiki on the move

The inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki competition will kick off in a bubble in Taupo as New Zealand Rugby try to keep the women’s season on track.

Four Super Rugby Aupiki squads will relocate to Taupo next week.

The Blues, Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua will drive, while Matatu will travel via charter flight.

Teams will stay across four hotels and operate in separate bubbles with exclusive use of training facilities in the Taupo area.

Players will be subject to regular rapid antigen tests.

The competition will be played in a condensed format with matches being played on Saturday 5 March, Thursday 10 March, Tuesday 15 March with the final on Sunday 20 March.

NZR general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said NZR has consulted with the NZRPA and Clubs, coming to the consensus that this was the best option to see the inaugural competition progress.

“We are 100 percent committed to seeing this competition go ahead and under the current Covid-19 regulations, this is the best option to see that happen.

“We appreciate the commitment that is required from our players and management staff to relocate for this period of time and are working closely with the clubs to work through this process,” Lendrum said.

The opening round matches and final will be played at Owen Delany Park, with the two mid-week evening rounds hosted at FMG Stadium Waikato.

The first three rounds will all be played as double-headers and played without crowds at the red level of the traffic light settings.

The squads were named in November, with two squads Matau and Hurricanes Poua announcing their captains on Monday.