OPINION: By all accounts the Manawatū Rugby Union mothership has the wherewithal, boosted by Jacinda Ardern's wage subsidy, to scrape through wounded but able to survive from this season's scourge. Although NZ Rugby will pay its grants, albeit reduced, there has already been a financial hole this year. Now we hear NZ Rugby remains committed to 14 NPC teams and the taxing storm week is gone for good. Manawatū spectators will be close to the action for the first time, because the stockcar track distances everyone at Arena Manawatū. So it gave Manawatū rugby boss Shannon Paku and co an excuse to try something different, as with the popular pre-season game at Kimbolton last year.

Source: Stuff August 26, 2020 16:52 UTC