As a COVID-disrupted cricket season draws to a close, rugby clubs and administrators are breathing a sigh of relief, confident that New Zealand's premier winter sport will go ahead without the restrictions that plagued our summer codes.
But while the Government has removed most hurdles, there's still one to navigate.
It's business as usual for Lincoln Rugby Club, but for club president Corran Pywell, New Zealand's loosening of COVID restrictions are described as "a massive relief".
"You can tell weight has come off a lot of shoulders," Pywell tells Newshub. "Probably more in the management side of things in the clubs, because it just takes a lot of workload away."
Vaccine mandates are gone, as are caps on crowd numbers for all levels across the game - welcome news for administrators.
"This is hugely positive for community rugby," NZR's head of community rugby Steve Lancaster says. "Having the clarity now and the certainty that rugby can take place in all forms."
A luxury our summer of cricket wasn't afforded - a logistical nightmare for every club, player, administrator and parent.
"The amount of work that had to go in behind the scenes is incredible," Auckland Cricket general manager Dean Bartlett says.
Despite the COVID-related challenges, Auckland's team entries were only down 2 percent - it was the team defaults that caused the headaches. February saw a staggering 10-30 teams pull out each week.
"It's been the biggest strain to deliver community sport in and around the isolation requirements," Bartlett adds.
Requirements that could yet disrupt the rugby season.
"We know where there are going to be games that get defaulted, and it will be a shame," Pywell continues.
"But there is a new thing on that's called 'game on', where we play 10-a-side and just gets everyone playing."
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's to adapt and evolve.
"Our club and school networks have been forced to look at how they offer the game," says Lancaster.
"What is the length of the season? What numbers do you have on the field? That work was underway but certainly the last couple of years has accelerated that thinking and that's not a bad thing."
And as long as no one shifts the goal posts once again, it's game on.
