SANZAAR will give Moana Pasifika every chance to be ready for round two of Super Rugby Pacific as players begin to leave COVID isolation.
The expansion club's opening game against the Blues was forced to be delayed after seven players were confirmed as COVID-19 cases.
They have confirmed the first wave of players have been released from isolation, with their match against the Chiefs on Friday moved back two days to give them every chance to prepare.
"Moana Pasifika’s first-round match against the Blues was postponed when the squad was forced into isolation at their Queenstown hotel on 9 February 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 today and resume training," a statement from SANZAAR read.
"New Zealand Rugby [NZR] 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."
This will see a number of changes to the schedule for the NZ-based teams, with the Highlanders v Crusaders moved forward 24 hours, now slated to kick off the round on Friday 26th February.
The Blues v Hurricanes match also shifts forward one day, with a change of venue and kick-off time, changing from 3:35 pm in Queenstown to 7.05 pm in Dunedin.
“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," NZR General Manager Professional Rugby and Performance Chris Lendrum added.
"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.”
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