Super Rugby Aoeteroa won't be halted by a single case of COVID-19.
The revamped competition is scheduled to kick off on June 13, with a Saturday evening clash between the Highlanders and the Chiefs.
Players must adhere to strict sanitation and hygiene guidelines, as NZ Rugby desperately tries to avoid anyone contracting the coronavirus.
But acting medical advisor Dr Deb Robinson believes the strict protocols put in place will prevent a mass competition-wide outbreak, if a player or coach tests positive.
"We've asked the players to keep their personal bubbles smaller than what they may have done at Level 2, as that decreases the risk of transmission," Robinson says.
"We are holding the players at a higher standard than the rest of the country, because we really want the competition to go well.
"If we get a singular case, it will very much be situational dependent. It will depend on who it is, how they present and how many people they have come in contact with.
"We don't think it will stymy the whole competition - the rules around contact tracing are exactly the same.
"It may create a hiccup or two, but I don't think it would result in the competition stopping."
Robinson also reveals that NZR doesn't plan on testing every player before the competition gets underway.
"That is in alignment with the Ministry of Health guidelines," she says. "There are issues around testing everyone beforehand in terms of timing.
"Players would be tested on different days and that can create its own problems. It's not as simple as that."
The other match on opening weekend features the Blues against the Hurricanes.
Join us for live updates of Super Rugby Aoeteroa from June 13.
