NPC - news, injuries etc
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Whoops, NZR fucking it up again with incorrectly submitted exemption paperwork
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From the Counties Newsletter
The PIC Steelers are continuing to train on their own as the lockdown continues and plan their return to the field once the COVID Alert Levels allow us,” Lawton added.
“We remain hopeful we will be able to re-join the competition along with Auckland and North Harbour and make up the additional games.
“We continue to work with NZR on what the future looks like but have certainly not given up the fight yet and are planning to return to the Bunnings Warehouse NPC as soon as possible.”
Steve Lancaster, NZR General Manager Community Rugby, was pleased to have two weeks of Bunnings Warehouse NPC and FPC rugby scheduled and hopeful the teams based in the Auckland region could re-join the competition in coming weeks.
“We are reviewing the impact of the latest government announcements and working through a number of options to ensure they can continue to safely play a part in both competitions. The provincial unions have shown their commitment and support for the competitions and especially Auckland, Counties Manukau and North Harbour who have been accommodating and understanding in these uncertain times,” Lancaster said.
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Blow for top Auckland teams' bid to play in NPC, Farah Palmer Cup
Liam Napier
New Zealand Rugby's plea to the government to allow three Auckland provincial teams to leave the Supercity and train in Taupō ahead of a return to the National Provincial Championship has been rejected.
The exemption case dismissal from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has also all but ended the participation of the three Auckland women's teams in the Farah Palmer Cup and comes only a day after four Silver Ferns players - captain Gina Crampton, vice-captain Sulu Fitzpatrick, Peta Toeava and Grace Nweke – were granted an exemption to leave the city in alert level 4 lockdown for Christchurch for the three-test series against England, starting on Monday.
Last week the Herald revealed NZR's proposal for Auckland, Counties Manukau and North Harbour to travel to Taupō's Wairakei Resort and train there in separate, secure bubbles for one week until alert levels are reduced enough for them to host games.
The request was for teams to travel only once Auckland moved down to alert level 3, which could happen as early as Tuesday.
As part of the proposal all players would be double-vaccinated; agree to return negative Covid-19 tests before leaving, and would be tested on days three and seven in Taupō.
As it stands, those teams have been unable to train since August 18, severely threatening their participation in the NPC which resumes outside Auckland tonight when Waikato host Canterbury in Hamilton.
In correspondence seen by the Herald, NZR's request was rejected by MBIE as it "either does not appear to meet the criteria for travel in the category you selected" or "required an exemption from the Director-General of Health, and he has declined it".
NZR are understood to be seeking further clarity on the reasons for their application being declined and assessing the options for the NPC.
The rejection brings major ramifications for the Auckland teams, and it is understood that it would end the participation of the three Auckland women's teams in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Before the cancellation of matches due to the latest lockdown, the Auckland Storm were third in the Premiership competition with three wins from four games while Counties Manukau are fourth. North Harbour sit third in the Championship.
The rescheduled final is set for October 10.
For the men's NPC, due to tight time constraints, Auckland, North Harbour and Counties Manukau's participation may now be contingent on the competition featuring no semifinals or a final.
Under NZR's collective agreement, the NPC must be concluded by November 27 in order to give all players a four-week break before Super Rugby Pacific preseason games begin.
The Herald understands the following timeline has been drafted for Auckland, Counties and North Harbour to rejoin the NPC. If these deadlines are not met, the three teams may not feature in the competition which would leave questions around their $1 million wage bills.
**With a lack of time to get back to match fitness once squads are allowed to train together again, it is no longer possible for Auckland, Counties or North Harbour to enter the NPC on the weekend of October 2. To re-enter the NPC on the weekend of October 9 those teams need:
- Auckland to move to alert level 3 by Wednesday, September 22
- To move to alert level 2 by Wednesday, September 29
Additionally, to potentially re-enter on October 16, Auckland would need to be at alert level 2 on October 6 and the competition may need to be round-robin only, with no semifinal or final.**
Friday's rejection follows six players across five NPC squads being removed after NZR was alerted to errors in their applications for a travel exemption.
The six players travelled separately from Auckland to Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū, Bay of Plenty and Northland to join their NPC squads over the past six to 10 days after being granted a travel exemption via an online application process managed by their provincial unions.
The Herald understands NZ Rugby may attempt to launch another exemption that allows teams to train in Auckland under level 3 restrictions but, based on this rejection, there appears little hope that will be granted.
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@kiwimurph said in NPC - news, injuries etc:
You'd have think that's the Auckland teams done for the year.
In a country where there is fuck all Covid, and they could be tested everyday.
The Covid fear in NZ is so fucking funny and so fucking embarrassing.
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Just watching Taranaki and thinking they look odds on to win the Championship.
You have to wonder what the hell is going to happen with promotion relegation if the 3 Auckland teams don't play?
Either they don't do promotion relegation this season or they might just have to relegate Auckland.
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@kiwimurph said in NPC - news, injuries etc:
Just watching Taranaki and thinking they look odds on to win the Championship.
You have to wonder what the hell is going to happen with promotion relegation if the 3 Auckland teams don't play?
Either they don't do promotion relegation this season or they might just have to relegate Auckland.
Or relegate the 6th best first division team? That would be harsh too.
I would guess there’s no promotion/relegation.
A five team second division without Harbour and Counties is really weak too.. they’ll be playing to find the only team that doesn’t make the semis? Maybe they just have a final? Either way that competition doesn’t demand promotion
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The Bunnings Warehouse NPC will continue for the next three weeks without Auckland-based teams as New Zealand Rugby (NZR) considers options for re-integrating Auckland, North Harbour and Counties Manukau into the competition.
Confirmation of a truncated schedule for weeks four, five and six follows the Government’s announcement that the Auckland region will drop down to COVID-19 Alert Level 3 for two weeks from 11.59PM today, meaning teams within that region are still unable to train or play.
Next three weeks of Bunnings Warehouse NPC draw confirmed
The Bunnings Warehouse NPC will continue for the next three weeks without Auckland-based teams as New Zealand Rugby (NZR) considers options for re-integrating Auckland, North Harbour and Counties Manukau into the competition.
Game over? Blow for top Auckland teams' bid to play in NPC, Farah Palmer Cup
