Rugby folk with eyes on New Zealand will have to wait for at least another week as the much anticipated North-South battle has been postponed.
New Zealand’s rugby governing body confirmed the postponement on Friday afternoon.
The clash between the north and south islands was due to take place at Wellington’s Sky Stadium on 29 August, but the 14-Auckland based players weren’t given clearance to travel to the nation’s capital on Monday when the two squads were due to assemble.
Owing to the late clearance, the earliest the game can be played is 5th September, if all factors remain constant.
New Zealand was forced to call off the mammoth clash between Crusaders and Blues in Auckland on the last weekend of Super Rugby Aotearoa a week ago due to the emergence of new coronavirus cases.
The North-South clash was scheduled to take place at Eden Park but the NZ Rugby body is considering another venue.
“We’re disappointed the game can’t go ahead at this stage next week, but we understand and respect the Government’s decision,” NZR general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said on Friday.
“We’re no different from hundreds of other New Zealanders who have also had their requests for exemption turned down, so we have to abide by the decision.”
