Blues chief executive Andrew Hore has called on the Government to let crowds back into stadiums sooner rather than later, as teams prepare to travel to Queenstown for the start of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Hore admits the year is already looking shaky financially and has slammed current COVID-19 restrictions that aren't making things any easier.
The Blues have had one last hit-out before starting their journey south and when they return to Auckland, they hope things will be very different.
"We're expecting crowds," says Hore. "People have made their choice and people that have done their double vax should be rewarded by being able to go to these things.
"We shouldn't be held to ransom by the people that haven't."
Hore's comments demonstrate how financially tough the past two seasons have been under the pandemic and he believes it's time to open up.
"I think people are starting now to get to a point where there's an expectation that life's got to start to get moving again and this is getting a bit silly."
With the first three rounds of Super Rugby Pacific scheduled behind closed doors at Queenstown, allowing crowds back in is not only wanted, but needed.
"These sort of draconion close-contact rules make most businesses in this country, through an economic lens, almost unworkable," says Hore.
When the season does kick off, the Blues will be without Beauden Barrett for at least round one, as he continues to recover from concussion.
"What happens after that, hopefully we start seeing him around the team and potentially being available," says coach Leon MacDonald. "But the first round's probably definitely a 'no go' for Beauden."
Even without Barrett, MacDonald has no shortage of leaders, naming loose forward Dalton Papalii as captain.
"I've played with these boys for years, so to get the chance to lead them onto the field, you can't really put it into words," he says. "It's just special."
By the time they return to Auckland, the Blues hope Papalii can lead his team out in front of home fans.
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