Highlanders vs Rebels match moved to Sydney

The Highlanders Super Rugby Trans-Tasman match against the Rebels has been moved from Queenstown to Sydney due to the extension of a travel pause between Victoria and New Zealand that was triggered by a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.

The Highlanders were scheduled to play the Rebels on Sunday afternoon in Queenstown, but will now travel to Australia on Saturday to play their round three-match at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.

The Rebels who had moved to Sydney on Wednesday in the hopes of flying to New Zealand on Saturday are now stranded in Australia due to the worsening of the outbreak in Victoria and the New Zealand Government’s extension of a travel pause.

Highlanders CEO Roger Clark says the club is disappointed for the people of Queenstown, fans, and the wider region, but grateful that the match could still go ahead.

New Zealand Rugby General Manager of Professional Rugby and High-Performance Chris Lendrum says the health and safety of players and fans remained the number one priority for all parties.

All the Rebels players and staff would be tested for COVID-19 before Sunday’s match.

The Highlanders will face the Rebels at 5pm Sunday.

[Source: TVNZ Sports]