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New Zealand locks in new date for provincial competition following lockdown delay
By Online Editors
The 2020 Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) has been rescheduled to kick off on Saturday, 5 September, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) confirmed today.
The new draw pushes the competition start-date out two weeks, but still allows for teams to complete a full schedule of matches with the final to be played on the last weekend of October.
NZR’s Head of Women’s Rugby Cate Sexton said it was pleasing to have the updated draw confirmed so teams could adjust preparations, but stressed it was still dependent on Government announcements on Covid-19 levels.
“A number of options were presented to Provincial Unions and they worked collaboratively and promptly to agree on this outcome.
“This give our teams some certainty in the preparations over the next few weeks and, depending on what happens with Alert Levels, we hope the Auckland-based teams will be able to train together again soon,” said Sexton.
North Harbour, Auckland and Counties Manukau are currently unable to train under Covid-19 Level 3 restrictions, which are in place through to at least 26 August.
NZR continues to work with Provincial Unions on specific Covid-19 protocols and restrictions to ensure the competition can go ahead if some regions are in Level 2.
The 2020 FPC North Pool will now kick off with Waikato hosting Northland, Counties Manukau and North Harbour doing battle in Pukekohe and Auckland travelling south to Taranaki. The South Pool will kick off the following weekend.
Canterbury, the current FPC champions and holders of the JJ Stewart Trophy, will start their season in Palmerston North against Manawatu.
- New Zealand Rugby
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Latest Comments
You remind me of a chap called Turlough who used to prowl these parts. Got very uppity about everything remotely near to a criticism of Ireland.
He would also refer to measuring Willies in some of his posts. Seemed a bit obsessed about measuring Willie’s to be honest.
Go to comments+ they came from nowhere to win the Gold Medal at the Olympics +
I don't challenge that - and that's perhaps the reason why Mr. Dupond is Rugby 7s Player of the Year (I think he in fact made the biggest impact, which is why the trophy is perhaps deserved) .... from a strategic or complexity point of view R7s to Test-Rugby is like comparing go-kart to Formula 1 (to make the point) ....
The Boks have fielded 52 players in 13 tests, adopted a new offence strategy and yet won 11 games while losing 2 due to luck of the opponent (Ireland, 2 drop goals in the last 5min) or misfortune (Argentina, missed kick by Manie)
I personally love R7s, it's great to watch the action in midst of a party atmosphere, but it's sort of kindergarden compared to Test-Rugby
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