Small crowd allowed in again for Bulls match
Tuesday, Sep 14 2021
Will Johnston
It’s a case of déjà vu for Taranaki Rugby (TRFU) when the national provincial championship returns this weekend.
Saturday’s match between Taranaki and Wellington at Inglewood’s TET Stadium will be watched by a limited crowd thanks to Covid restrictions.
TRFU chief executive Laurence Corlett said the same plans used for last year’s season opener when the region was in level 2 will repeat.
“We’ve been there, done that. We’ve just refined it and made it better,” he said.
At the time, Inglewood had the largest crowd during the first round with 1200 spectators. Other unions followed suit in the second round.
On Saturday, 10 areas of 100 people will be cordoned off exclusively for sponsors, partners, player’s families and season members.
With nearly 1500 members, Corlett said they were asked to show interest in the match via email and attendance will be a case of first-in first served.
The union’s major and principal sponsors will occupy Inglewood’s rugby clubrooms, adhering to the 50 person indoor limit.
“Under Delta it’s harder. Last year we had a bubble of 100 upstairs and we are trying to work within the rules. It will be a very small, select group,” he said.
He admits TET Stadium offers more flexibility when it comes to different exits and entrance ways for separation compared to larger stadiums.
The union has been working with the Ministry of Health and police to sign off the arrangements.
Meanwhile, on the field, the lockdown provided a silver lining for the Bulls, who are two from two in the competition. Halfback Logan Crowley and lock Mitch Brown are available for selection after they missed the first two games because of injury. Flanker Lachlan Boshier is still in doubt. The playing 23 will be named on Thursday.
Corlett said the team trained well during lockdown and last week was about “getting shoulders on bodies.”
The union is in a better financial position, compared to last year’s lockdown. That was helped by Pukekura Park’s highly successful match in August, Corlett said.