Due to COVID-19 Super Rugby Pacific teams will relocate to a hub in Queenstown New Zealand.

All matches will be played at Wakatipu and Invercargill for three to four weeks after New Zealand Rugby made the decision to move the squads in an attempt to manage the risks of COVID sidelining the teams.

The NZR said this would give the best chance of the season kicking off as scheduled on February 18.

NZR General Manager Professional Rugby & Performance Chris Lendrum, said: “Under current COVID-19 regulations it would only take one positive case entering a squad environment to shut down an entire squad for 10 days.

“The knock-on effect for the rest of the competition would be the postponement or cancellation of matches.”

In the hub squads will operate in separate bubbles in exclusive training zones within Queenstown and will have to undertake regular rapid antigen tests.

However, Lendrum said the measure will only be short-term until march, when teams will move back to their home bases.

“We are committed to bringing the teams home in early-March regardless of the COVID-19 landscape.” Said Lendrum

“We realise there is a significant sacrifice in leaving whānau behind to play these matches and we are grateful for the cooperation of our players, the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association, Sky and also the Queenstown Lakes District Council who have accommodated our requests at short notice and providing facilities for our teams to train and play in the region.” He continued.