New Zealand Rugby support decision to postpone Olympic Games

The New Zealand Rugby Union supports the decision made overnight by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone the Olympic Games.

The decision stated an aim to reschedule the event in 2021.

New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said the health and wellbeing of our athletes and the wider sporting community takes precedent and this decision is necessary in such uncertain times.

“We commend the IOC for their decision to postpone the Olympic Games. We appreciate our teams will be disappointed, as we all are at New Zealand Rugby, but we know our players support this decision as their focus is now on their own health and that of their families in this current lockdown,” said Robinson.

New Zealand Rugby’s High Performance Sevens Manager Tony Philp said players were given the option to return home to families or stay at their base in Mt Maunganui in preparation for the nationwide shut down enforced by the Government. 

The most important thing for our players at the moment is to adapt to life at home and that they, and their families, are able to remain safe and healthy during this time.

"The next step will be making sure players can stay connected and how they integrate training and wellbeing activities into their daily routine” said Philp.

The postponement of the Olympics follows World Rugby’s announcement over the weekend to postpone the remainder of the 2020 Sevens World Series.

Read the IOC announcement.