Due to the ongoing effects and challenges caused by Covid-19, Hawke’s Bay Club Rugby will unfortunately be postponed, with the first round now confirmed as Friday 15th April (Good Friday), a delay of 21 days from the original March 26th start date.
This deferred date will allow the necessary time for players, coaches, referees, and administrators to fully recover and/or exit isolation and undertake the correct return to play protocols including allowing some sort of preseason matches to be played on the weekend of April 9th or for some possibly even, April 2nd.
As a result of this reduced season, the following changes have been made to the 2022 Ray White Club Rugby Season:
Premier Grade - Ray White Maddison Trophy
A one round Maddison Trophy competition only with 11 teams played over 12 weeks of round robin plus play-offs. Napier Pirate as the only eligible remaining team that made the Division One playoffs in 2021 have been promoted to fill the 11th club side. Unfortunately given the reduction in weeks available it was not deemed possible to play two rounds within the time frame available.
However, this 11-team Maddison Trophy competition will see each club playing five home and five away games with one bye weekend. The top eight after the round-robin will go through to play-offs, which will include quarterfinals, semi-finals and the final. The club finishing in 11th position will move down and play in the Town & Country grade for the 2023 club season.
Finals will again be played at the home of rugby, McLean Park over finals weekend, Friday 15th and Saturday 16th July.
Town & Country Grade Jack Swain Cup (town) & Arthur Bowman Cup (country)
Will remain in place for the first round, teams will then be divided up into Division 1 & 2 for the second round.
One significant change to the Town & Country grade, is that ‘Game On’ (minimum 10 aside) will now be available to teams during the first round. This is to ensure that clubs have players to support their premier teams if clubs become effected by covid.
Colts Grade - Arthur Brown Cup
The Arthur Brown Cup will also remain as a two-round competition. However, to ensure all games can fit into the season there will be two midweek night rounds.
Division 3 - Big Barrel Maury Cody Cup
With 11 teams involved, the competition will mirror the Premier competition, each team playing five home and five away games with one bye before play-offs.
Women’s Grade - Big Barrel Marsh Cup
This will remain as a two-round competition with the final round now been played on the 2nd of July.
All these changes have been made to ensure that clubs get as much rugby as we can within the club rugby timeframe that is available.
Hawke’s Bay Club Rugby Manager Sean Davies said “Unfortunately, Covid will continue to impact clubs and teams over the course of the coming season. However, by delaying the season start date our hope is that many squads will hopefully have better immunity through the vaccination process, as well as those who have returned from isolation.”
The competition draws are currently in the process of being drafted and clubs can expect these by the end of the week.