Bay of Plenty Rugby is making changes to games this weekend because of the country's move in COVID-19 alert levels.

With the Bay of Plenty now at alert level 2 some games have been cancelled, social distancing and contact tracing will be happening at others.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union has decided to treat games like the country is still at alert level on Saturday after consulting with representatives of New Zealand Rugby and members of the various competition committees across the region.

The following will happen for this weekend's scheduled matches:
Western Bay Junior Rugby

• U6 & U7 Bay Oval - Cancelled
• U8-U10 Blake Park – Games will continue with strict level 2 restrictions in place. The WBOP JMC Blake Park Sub Committee is working on a potential solution around how they will manage the 100 people mass gathering restrictions.
• U11-U13 games at clubs – Games will continue with strict level 2 restrictions in place. Home teams to host

Central Bay Junior Rugby
All play at Westbrook Fields is cancelled this weekend.

Eastern Bay Junior Rugby
All play at Whakatane Rugby Park is cancelled this weekend.

Baywide Secondary Schools Rugby
Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools rugby will continue as normal this weekend, however, as per the Ministry of Education guidelines, there are no spectators, unless schools have a system to manage crowds of no more than 100, including players, and team lists are collected for contact tracing. People are advised to check with their child's school for clarification on whether they are able to have spectators or not.
Parents will have to drop off their children at the gates and return to their cars until the completion of the match. All coaches and managers are responsible for executing contact tracing and hygiene protocols says BOPRU.

Senior Club Rugby

There are twelve senior clubs right across the Bay of Plenty region that are scheduled to host matches this weekend and all have advised that they are well prepared to follow COVID-19 safety plans with regards to hosting home games under alert level 2 restrictions.
With the Western Bay Sub Union competition in the semi-final stage, Tauranga Sports are still scheduled to host both a Premier Mens and Development Mens semi-final at the Tauranga Domain. Te Puke Sports are still scheduled to host Te Puna in the other Premier men's semi-final at Murray Salt Stadium, with Rangataua scheduled to host the remaining Development Mens final and the Toi Ohomai Baywide Womens Final at Ariki Park Maungatapu.

BOPRU says everyone has a part to play in ensuring the games this weekend go off without a hitch. They are asking people to:

1. If you're sick or have flu like symptoms, stay home. Don't go to rugby this weekend.
2. If you're going to attend a venue as a spectator, follow the wishes of the host club. Check in, use the hand sanitizer, avoid physical contact with people and stay 2 metres away from the person beside you.
3. If you attend a club room afterwards, only 100 people allowed! You must check in, use hand sanitizer, be seated and be served.

For more information visit the website.