'Bubble life; is beckoning for the Kiwi Super Rugby teams.
As Newshub first reported last week, New Zealand Rugby has now confirmed all six New Zealand-based sides will relocate to Queenstown in a bid to ensure the Super Rugby Pacific season can proceed, as COVID modelling experts predict the Omicron outbreak to worsen over the coming weeks.
But how long players will need to remain in the bubble is unclear.
New Zealand Rugby knows what a monumental decision they're making.
"What we're announcing today is unprecedented in the history of the professional game," New Zealand Rugby's head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum says.
"But I hope it's also really exciting, I know our players want to play, they want to do what they love.
"This gives them the best opportunity to do that."
But in order to do so, it'll mean bubble life in the adventure capital of the world.
All teams, which works out to around 300 people, will be in six separate hotels, isolated from the public. It's a move which is expected to cost seven figures.
"It's not foolproof, and it's no guarantee," Lendrum adds.
"We may still get further disruption, but it gives us and them the best chance of getting these games away."
Details around the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season are yet to be locked in.
The men's sides though are welcoming what lies ahead with day games in Queenstown, and night ones in Invercargill.
"We're pretty used to it," says Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.
"We've got a good mindset around it. In some ways it's quite exciting, it's a little bit daunting, but it's something new which we thrive on."
Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger believes despite the challenges which await them, they'll also thrive.
"I think we'll do this better than anyone else to be fair, just based on that, our connections, as a family, that's what this team's all about," he says.
Though Mauger knows leaving their families is going to be the biggest challenge for the players.
"Knowing how tightly connected our boys are to home and their families," he adds.
"We've got young dads leaving their young wives behind and first-time babies, we've just had a couple of babies in the last few weeks as well. So that'll be tough."
With the move now confirmed, Mauger just wants to see his team playing footy.
"Leshgo," he jokes.
Indeed.
