Community sports teams are patiently waiting until Friday's move to groups of 100 to restart training, but Christchurch Boys High School were back in full swing on Thursday.
The backpacks are off, the boots are on and school rugby is back.
Classified as inside their school bubble, about 200 eager players took to the field for the first time since lockdown.
"A lot of relief, I guess," says coach Andy Gibson. "Because there's been a lot of uncertainty around the sport.
"Guys just want to get out there and have some fun, so it's good to be back."
A full 15 rounds of the Crusaders regional First XV competition is scheduled to begin on June 20.
For many of the students, it will be the biggest year of their rugby careers.
"I've never experienced anything like standing there with your school behind you, cheering you on," says midfielder Callum Simpson. "It's an unbelievable experience."
For Christchurch Boys' High, the biggest game of the year is the annual match against Christ's College, scheduled for July 18.
But with gathering restrictions still in place, traditional matches could result in games with no crowds, creating a logistical headache for many schools and parks with easy accessibility.
"They were pretty vicious on the sidelines, with the banter going back and forth," Gibson adds.
"It's going to be an interesting situation on how they manage that, for sure."
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