LATEST UPDATE – Auckland moves to Alert Leve 1, crowds return for National 20s

12 March 2021

With the Auckland region moving to Alert to Level 1 at midday today, crowds are now permitted at all NZRL National 20s games.

NZRL is encouraging clubs and all involved in the game to continue to maintain a high level of awareness and hygiene at all rugby league activities, including trainings and games. 

While the mandatory Government requirements are significantly reduced under Level 1, clubs are still required to display NZ COVID Tracer QR posters and should have a manual tracing log available too. 

All rugby league participants are encouraged to keep track of where they have been. 

Good handwashing practices and coughing and sneezing into elbows, not hands, remain important. 

Any person feeling unwell should stay home and avoid rugby league activities, and if they present with cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms should contact their doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to see if they need a test.

NZRL National 20s schedule rearranged in light of Auckland’s Alert Level 3 (03/03/21)

3 March 2021

Due to Auckland being in Alert Level 3, where all rugby league activity (playing, contact and non-contact training) remains postponed for the remainder of the week (pending Government update), the NZRL National 20s competition schedule has been rearranged.

This Sunday, 7 March, the 12 pm match between Central Districts vs. South Island at Jerry Collins Stadium in Wellington will go ahead as planned WITHOUT CROWDS.

The two other Round Two games (Northland vs. Auckland White and Waicoa Bay vs. Auckland Blue) have been rescheduled to take place on Friday, 2 April in Opaheke, Auckland.

As a result of the reschedule, the grand final has now been moved to Saturday 10April, 12:30 pm at Opaheke, Auckland.

Unfortunately, Takahiwai will no longer host any 20s games for the year; however, Northland will get a home game at Trigg Arena (Whangarei Stadium) on Saturday 27 March, 2:30 pm vs. Auckland Blue.

All of the NZRL National 20s games can be viewed live on Sky Sport 4, as well as Fox League, Kayo and Watch NRL for Australian viewers.

For those OUTSIDE AUCKLAND, rugby league activity is permitted ONLY if clubs and facilities can abide by all of the below health requirements:

• A contact tracing register must be kept at all clubs and able to be accessed quickly. NZRL recommend the NZ Covid Tracer app with QR codes clearly displayed on entry and exit points.

• Physical distancing is required at all times; this is mandatory for those not participating on the field (2 metres).

• Rugby League activity must abide by the 100 person gathering limit. PLEASE NOTE – there are no crowds for this Sunday’s National 20s match at Jerry Collins Stadium in Wellington.

• Participants should wash and dry their hands before and after training and playing; equipment should be sanitised and dried before and after playing. No one should be participating (or leaving home) if they show any signs of being sick, displaying symptoms of COVID-19, awaiting a test, or if required to self-isolate.

NZRL will provide further guidance regarding return to rugby league activity for Auckland and any further update on the National 20s competition when possible (subject to Government updates).

The health and wellbeing of our communities remain the priority. Please wear a mandatory face mask if taking public transport and continue to abide by the above health and safety requirements.

Thank you for your ongoing co-operation and understanding during this time.

CONTACT TRACING REQUIREMENTS FOR RUGBY LEAGUE CLUBS

Rugby league clubs who are able to open at Alert Level 2 will be required to maintain a contact tracing register of participants and spectators to assist the Ministry of Health’s efforts at contact tracing.

The register

• can be hard copy (see template below) or electronic
• Both electronic and manual contact tracing must be available and placed prominently at the entry point to any facility (indoor and outdoor). Click here to download and learn more about the NZ Covid Tracer app.
• MUST record all individuals who have visited your facility.
• MUST include the following information for each individual: Date, Time, Full name, Address, Phone & Email addresses.

Guidance issued by the Ministry of Health requires:

• that these details should be kept for four weeks
• the information collected may only be used for the purpose of contact tracing at the request of the Ministry of Health or local district health boards.

Care should be taken in the maintenance of the guest register, with the following issues being addressed:

• Transparency: Individuals must be made aware of the reason for the register, and what will happen to the information.  It is suggested that the following wording be used:

“This information is being collected to assist in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be given to the Ministry of Health and/or the District Health Board on request in the event that it is required for contact tracing purposes. We will not use it for any other purpose, and will destroy it after four weeks. It will be kept here at [name of the establishment]. You have a right to access and correct any information we hold about you.”

• Security: Keep the information safe, in a locked area and think about how to prevent individuals seeing the information provided by others on the register, e.g. could you cover the others’ details when later individuals sign in?
• Retention and disposal: Securely dispose of the register after four weeks.  Do not just throw it in the bin.
• Use: The sole purpose of the register is for contact tracing.  Do not use the information for any other purpose, such as building your mailing list.
• Disclosure: Do not give the register to other parties, or let individuals flick through it.

TRAINING

All players, team staff and supporters who attend training will

• need to contact trace using one of the methods outlined above.
• Ensure that you have a system for contact tracing that works for your facility and organisation before training commences e.g. each team manager is responsible for checking in players, team staff and supporters who attend training.

GAME DAY

All players and team staff will use online team sheets as their method of contact tracing on game days.  Click here for support note on how to enter team sheets or here to watch a recorded webinar.

Supporters who access your facility, including fields and clubrooms,

• MUST use one of the methods outlined above.
• Ensure that you have a system for contact tracing that works for your facility and organisation before play commences e.g. a COVID champion is identified in each team and helps their team’s supporters check in. Could your “be a sport” ambassador do this?

Should there be a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case among someone who visited your facility, you should contact Healthline’s dedicated COVID-19 hotline on 0800 358 5453.  Health authorities will then decide whether to contact anyone else linked to the suspected or confirmed case.

If you need any further details or have any further queries regarding contact tracing and the Privacy Act 1993 please contact the Privacy Commissioner on 0800 803 909 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm).

NZRL COVID-19 LEVEL 2 PREPARE TO PLAY CHECKLIST

NZRL has developed the prepare to play rugby league checklist below to support clubs to prioritise and assist the safe delivery of rugby league for participants and supporters.

Club checklist_prepare to play – print version

NZRL_Contact Tracing FORM – print version

POSTERS FOR CLUBS