Moana Pasifika hit with Covid-19 outbreak, opening Super Rugby Pacific match postponed

Moana Pasifika hit with Covid-19 outbreak, opening Super Rugby Pacific match postponed

Moana Pasifika’s preparations for their first season of Super Rugby have been dealt a hammer blow.

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Moana Pasifika’s preparations for their first season of Super Rugby have been dealt a hammer blow.

Seven Moana Pasifika players have tested positive for Covid-19 in Queenstown, resulting in the postponement of their opening Super Rugby Pacific game next Friday.

Moana Pasifika were due to play the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, but the Covid-19 outbreak within the camp means it will be rescheduled, New Zealand Rugby confirmed on Friday night.

Moana Pasifika’s pre-season fixture against the Highlanders on Saturday has been cancelled, with the Chiefs confirming they will have a match of three halves with the Blues and Highlanders. That game will start at Queenstown’s Recreation Ground at noon on Saturday.

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The Moana Pasifika squad were isolating in their Queenstown hotel after the seven players’ tests were confirmed as positive, NZ Rugby said, adding it understood the positive cases posed a low risk to the local community as the players had been in their own bubble since arriving in the resort town.

“Moana Pasifika are … working closely with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and health authorities, while following all Covid-19 protocols.”

All members of the other five NZ-based Super Rugby Pacific squads had test

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