Statement: Suspension of Super Rugby 2020:
Following a SANZAAR Executive Committee (EXCO) teleconference in response to the announcement by the New Zealand Government that all returning travellers will have to self-isolate for 14 days, including Super Rugby players, SANZAAR believes it has no option but to suspend the 2020 Super Rugby tournament at the conclusion of this weekend’s matches for the foreseeable future.
Five New Zealand teams play in the 15-team Super Rugby tournament and SANZAAR completely understands the directive issued by the New Zealand Government given concerns globally over the COVID-19 virus and the primary aim to reduce exposure and spread of the virus.
SANZAR CEO Andy Marinos stated, “the safety and welfare of the public, our playersand other stakeholders is paramount and as previously stated we were always going to abide by government and health authority instructions on the issue of COVID-19 containment.”
“We are extremely disappointed for the players, our fans, broadcasters and partners but given the complexity of our competition structure, and the multiple geographies that we cover, we have no other option but to align with such directives. We also believe it is time for all those players currently overseas to return home and to be with their families.”
“Our priority is, therefore, to ensure our players are within their homes territories from the end of this weekend. SANZAAR will also remain engaged with its stakeholders and will continue to explore avenues to see if we can keep the rugby product alive within our core markets, with the possibility to be in a position to resume the tournament if at all possible in future weeks. We have currently played seven rounds out of the 18 in the normal regular season”.
SANZAAR will issue further information on Super Rugby 2020 and any potential rescheduled fixtures in the days ahead.
ISSUED BY SANZAAR
The post Statement: Suspension of Super Rugby 2020 appeared first on The Sharks.
In the final Vodacom Super Rugby match featuring South African sides before the tournament was postponed until further notice, the Cell C Sharks finished with a flourish, beating the DHL Stormers 24-14 at Jonsson KINGS PARK on Saturday afternoon to go top of the log.
In a sad day for sport as the global health pandemic takes hold, the Cell C Sharks were simply too good in every facet of the game and while the 10 point margin of victory seems emphatic, the game was much closer than that as both sides hammered away at each other in true South African derby style.
The match started off on a sour note as Louis Schreuder fielded the kick-off but was dangerously taken out in the air and had to be stretchered off the field, while the Stormers had the offending player miss 10 minutes in the sin bin.
In a real arm wrestle tussle of a match, the first scoring opportunity only presented itself after 15 minutes of play, Thomas du Toit doing great work competing for the ball on the ground and earning the penalty. The long range kick went wide but it showed just how tight the match was and just how scarce scoring opportunities were proving to be.
It took a full 25 minutes before the first score, Aphelele Fassi breaking through a tackle after the Cell C Sharks had hammered away at a strong Stormers’ defence, and he somehow managed to bust through to score a vital try. It was the perfect pass from Bosch and he finished off with the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
But the Stormers struck back immediately after a high kick was exploited in space and within the space of a minute or two, 14 points had been scored.
The game continued to remain tight with defences proving too strong and it was down to two minutes into extra time before the Cell C Sharks managed to seal the final score of the half, Bosch kicking a good drop-goal to take his team into the lead, 10-7 ahead at half-time.
The second half continued in the same fashion, the heat and humidity not making life easy for either side, although the Cell C Sharks continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession and territory. The Stormers continued to leak penalties and it took nearly 10 minutes before the scorers were bothered, Bosch kicking a penalty to push us into a six point lead.
As the game snuck into the final quarter, the Stormers, finally getting their hands on the ball, managed a midfield break to score their second try and with the conversion, took the lead for the first time, albeit by the narrowest of margins – 14-13.
With points’ scoring opportunities rare, a penalty from out wide and inside his half was struck ever so sweetly as Bosch, to the sounds of clapping from the crowd, sent the ball straight and true to retake the lead with the final 10 minutes remaining.
Then there were five.
A scrum penalty was just reward for the hardworking forwards and Bosch pushed the lead to five points with the game winding down, but more importantly, forcing the Stormers into the pressure of having to chase a converted try to win.
The visitors had a glimmer of hope with another scrum, but were pushed off their ball, it was recovered and sent wide and Makazole Mapimpi was never going to be caught. It sealed the fate of the game in the most emphatic way.
It also means that for the time being, the Cell C Sharks are South African Conference and overall log leaders.
The post Sharks Finish on a High appeared first on The Sharks.
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