As optimism increases that the country will move to Alert Level 1 next week, there is hope crowds will be allowed to attend Super Rugby matches.
Super Rugby Aotearoa will start with a match at Forsyth Barr Stadium on June 13 when the Highlanders take on the Chiefs. It was initially planned to be played behind closed doors as gatherings were limited to 100 and, as it stands today, that is what will happen.
But that could change if restrictions are loosened next week.
The five Super Rugby franchises would be keen to get people through the gate as that is where the bulk of their income comes from.
NZR is continuing to take advice from the Government and is not getting ahead of itself.
NZR head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum said plans were being looked at but nothing was set in stone.
‘‘We are working closely with our Super Rugby clubs and developing plans around the potential to host crowds at some point during the competition,” he said.
The competition runs through to mid-August.
The Highlanders played just two home games at the start of the season, losing to the Sharks and Rebels, before the competition was suspended in mid-March.