The Dunedin City Council closed all its sports grounds yesterday and they will remain out of bounds today, and that includes for premier rugby.
Otago Rugby Football Union community rugby manager Richard Perkins suggested unless there was a miracle, all four premier games will be postponed at 9am this morning.
''We did get an email from the council saying all grounds are close and that included premier rugby fields,'' Perkins said.
''They are forecasting rain similar to the June flooding in 2015.''
''It is pretty disappointing that the grounds will be closed.
''Obviously, that will affect what we need to do with the competition ... That will be decided at a future date by the Metropolitan Rugby Council.''
Perkins said the match committee had hoped to find a solution so the round could go ahead.
''We put some options to the council to play on the sand-based grounds at Hancock Park and Kettle Park, but their stance was that the grounds would be closed.
''So our hands are tied, but the match committee has said they would like to make a call on officially cancelling the rugby games at 9am.
''Obviously, the grounds will be closed but if a miracle happened and the clouds cleared and everything blew away - they just think it has been a wee bit of a premature call.
''But we are not the weather Gods and, as I said, our hands have been tied. The grounds are closed and we have to respect that.''
Forsyth Barr Stadium was not an option either, as some ground maintenance is being carried out at the venue, Perkins said.
It is rare for premier rugby to be called off, but it happened in June 2007 because of snow and ice. Those games were moved to the following day, but severe wind chill forced administrators to reschedule the matches and extend the season a week.
And in May 2014, strong winds and heavy rain caused premier rugby to be called off early.
''It is too early to say what will happen,'' Perkins said when asked whether the round could be replayed at a later date, as it was in 2007.
''We have to talk to the Metropolitan Rugby Council. They are responsible for making that call.''
There was no thought of playing the games during the Easter break.
''People will have already made plans for Easter and we have to respect that.''
No-one from the DCC was available for comment last night.
All Black and Highlanders winger Waisake Naholo was due to return to action this afternoon. The speedy winger was named on the wing for Harbour in its match with Dunedin at Kettle Park.
He picked up a hamstring injury in the 16-12 win against the Blues at Eden Park last month.