Super Rugby and Cricket World Cup matches will be able to have unrestricted crowd numbers following the relaxing of Covid-19 restrictions.
The Government has announced that from this weekend limits on numbers at outdoor events will be removed altogether while the indoor limit will increase from 100 to 200 people.
Masks will still need to be worn.
Crowds can return to Super Rugby matches Photo: Photosport
That means crowds can return to Super Rugby matches, where currently only small pods of up to 100 people in different parts of a designated area such as stands.
The Highlanders are due to play the Blues at Forsyth Barr stadium this weekend, and Highlanders officials are awaiting clarification on crowd numbers for the 30 thousand seat stadium - hoping it will be able to have unrestricted numbers.
The lifting in restrictions however doesn't come in time for Moana Pasifika's match against the Hurricanes which is scheduled to be played on Friday night at Mt Smart Stadium.
Regardless, NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said the news had come at a critical time for the six New Zealand-based Super Rugby franchises.
"It's a business model that can be challenging at the best of times, let alone when you throw a pandemic into it and a situation where crowds are impacted for three consecutive years.
"We'll just continue to work with each of the clubs and try and undertsand the support they might need."
As for its impact on community rugby, Robinson described the announcement as "huge".
"The community game is the very base of our pyramid and it's critically important.
"For everyone associated with the game, be they four and five-year-olds involved with rippa rugby, through into our secondary schools, all the volunteers, caregivers, mums and dads and everyone else associated with the game at this level, we know this means an awful lot to them.
"Relief is one word, excitement is another. There will be just a lot of anticipation now to get back out and performing the game in a more normal setting now, hopefully."
The T20 international between the Black Caps and the Netherlands in Napier on Friday will still have crowd limits too.
However a full crowd will be able to attend the White Ferns final World Cup game against Pakistan in Christchurch on Saturday.
Tournament CEO Andrea Nelson said she was "chuffed" to be able to throw open the doors to the remaining matches including the final on 3 April.
"We've found that as it has gone on and more and more matches have happened and gone down to the wire, the interest has just grown and grown, Christchurch is cricketing heartland as is Wellington so we jst know that the crowds will be really wanting to come out and support the girls," Nelson said.
Andrea Nelson. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020
Nelson is not concerned about the impact on crowds if the home side do not feature in the finals.
"I think people love a world cup and New Zealanders get behind these amazing athletes and it's a historic moment for the country as well as a historic moment for the sport, so we're really confident that people will come along."
ANZ premership netball crowds can increase but only to 200 with all matches played indoors.
The Warriors had already stated they intended remaining in Brisbane for the entire NRL season.
However it does firm up their plans to return to Auckland for some games - having targeted their match against the Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium on July 3rd as their first back in Auckland.
Warriors CEO Cameron George said the club can now plan confidently for the first major rugby league game in New Zealand in more than two and a half years.
"It's fantastic newsfor all the long-suffering rugby league fans and for sports organisations like ours," said George.
Warriors CEO Cameron George. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"Until now we were cautiously optimistic families, members, fans and sponsors would at last be able to see the team playing in front of them at Mount Smart... but now we're confident and hugely excited about the way being cleared for a return to our true home," he said.
"It will be one of the biggest and certainly the most emotional in the club's history."
The match will be the side's first at Mt Smart since August 30, 2019.
The last major rugby league game played in New Zealand was the second test between the Kiwis and Great Britain in Christchurch in November, 2019.
After the Tigers on July 3, the Warriors will host Melbourne (July 29), Canterbury Bankstown (August 12) and Gold Coast (September 3).
-RNZ
