College Old Boys’ James Tofa looks for a gap against Te Kawau on April 30, before club rugby took at unnecessary week off. Then why did the Manawatū rugby union change 135 years of habit by giving senior teams an unprecedented Saturday off last weekend? It led to widespread displeasure among club rugby followers that teams were deemed to need a refresher in mid-season. READ MORE:* Super Carr could justify a place in rugby's bible* Super Rugby Aotearoa: The toll it took on New Zealand's top players* Super Rugby needs to fill TV slots or NRL will take overJudging by calls that came my way, the intermission was barely publicised and ignored the fact senior rugby is for the club faithful as well as the players. Word reaches me that New Zealand players with Japanese pro rugby teams and their families have been infected and are not impressed with Japan's inefficient pandemic management.

Source: Stuff May 14, 2021 18:00 UTC