The Highlanders yesterday relocated to Queenstown to join the other five New Zealand-based teams in a bubble that could stay in place for a month to mitigate the risk of an Omicron case wiping out one of the squads due to isolation rules.
Their contingent — 35 players and 12 support staff — travelled from Dunedin by minivans to cut down travel time, and will be staying at the Crowne Plaza.
On arrival last night, the players were given a run-down of the bubble rules put in place by New Zealand Rugby.
They will not be allowed to go to supermarkets or cafes — basically anywhere that leads to interaction with the public in enclosed spaces.
While they will be allowed to play golf, walk around town and go swimming, they will have to follow strict Covid protocols.
"They’re pretty tough — a lot tougher than the general public have been asked to follow," Clark said.
"But this is a very expensive exercise, and the whole point is to try to keep everybody healthy and make sure we don’t have any close contacts with Covid cases over these next few weeks.
"We want to keep this competition going, or at least get it started."
Training venue details were being confirmed, Clark said.
There will be five grounds for the six teams — understood to be Jack’s Point, Arrowtown, the Queenstown Events Centre, the Queenstown Recreation Ground and the Queenstown Polo Club’s Malaghans venue — and they will visit four separate gyms at different times.
The Highlanders had taken up the equivalent of two container-loads of gear on a big Temuka Transport truck and trailer, Clark said.
"Rugby gear, gym gear, bags, bikes — we’ve taken enough stuff up there to set up a decent base."
Teams entered a ballot for hotels but there were always going to be plenty to choose from, Clark said.
They will be kept entirely separate from other guests and have their own dining room and accommodation on separate floors.
Now, as much as concentrating on building a winning team on the field, comes the challenge of keeping the players from "bubbling over".
Clark said the Highlanders were leaning on the insights of manager Paul "Moose" McLaughlan, who experienced bubble life with the Wallabies last year, and coach Tony Brown, who had seen it all with Japan.
"They realise that to keep people in a bubble like this, you’ve got to keep them stimulated.
"We’ve got to keep changing it up. So there are a number of activities and exercises we will do as a team, and in groups."
The Highlanders’ pre-season game against the new Moana Pasifika team is back on but will now be played in Queenstown at 2pm on Saturday.
Their Super Rugby Pacific opener will be against the Chiefs in a 4.35pm kick-off in the resort, before back-to-back Saturday games that involve gruelling return trips to Dunedin.
Those games, against the Crusaders then the Hurricanes, were among the six night games slated to be held in Invercargill but then pushed north.
"Coaches and senior players of all six teams preferred to play at Forsyth Barr Stadium because of superior facilities," Clark said.
"No-one is worried about the travel. They all want to play on Forsyth Barr, which is a testament to our beautiful stadium.
"It also shows how completely focused the players are on providing a great spectacle, and having the best chance to play the best rugby."
