The four Super Rugby Aupiki sides will move into a Taupo bubble to ensure the inaugural competition can proceed, New Zealand Rugby has confirmed.
As first reported by Newshub on Sunday, each team will relocate to the Taupo-based bubble, where a condensed two-and-a-half week tournament will be played.
The set-up is similar to the one used by the NZ-based Super Rugby Pacific sides in Queenstown, designed to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 disruption.
The competition will begin, as planned, on March 5, with games to be played on Thursday, March 10, Tuesday, March 15, followed by a final on Sunday, March 20.
Games will be played at Taupo's Owen Delaney Park and Hamilton's FMG Stadium.
The squads will operate in separate bubbles with exclusive use of training facilities in the Taupō area. The opening round matches and final will be played at Taupō’s Owen Delany Park, with the two mid-week evening rounds hosted at FMG Stadium.
The first three rounds will all be played as double-headers without crowds at the red level of the traffic light settings.
Teams will stay across four hotels and will utilise the same COVID-19 protocols currently being implemented for Super Rugby Pacific. Players will remain in their team bubbles at all times and be subject to regular rapid antigen tests.
"We are 100 percent committed to seeing this competition go ahead, and under the current COVID-19 regulations, this is the best option to see that happen," says NZR general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum.
"We appreciate the commitment that is required from our players and management staff to relocate for this period of time and are working closely with the clubs to work through this process."
While preventing the spread of Omicron is the primary reason for the changes, the shorter timeframe also reduces the strain on the majority of the players, who are not full-time and have families and other jobs to attend to.
"To spend probably more time with these girls is hugely exciting as well, but I know that comes with challenges for people, the likes who aren't professional rugby players," says freshly named Hurricanes Poua captain Sarah Hirnini.
"Girls are working through that and they're getting the support they need."
The Blues, Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua will drive to Taupō next week, while Matatū will travel via charter flight.
Revised Super Rugby Aupiki schedule:
Saturday, March 5 - Blues v Chiefs Manawa, Matatū v Hurricanes Poua at Owen Delany Park, Taupō
Thursday, March 10 - Hurricanes Poua v Blues, Chiefs Manawa v Matatū at FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Tuesday, March 15 - Blues v Matatū, Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua at FMG Stadium, Hamilton
