“We've worked together and the provincial unions have led the decision-making,” he was quoted as saying.
“This is a partnership and I acknowledge them for being willing to have these conversations and make tough decisions.
“We've needed to act swiftly, decisively and together. We are united in what we want to achieve and that's to secure the future of rugby. These decisions have all been about ensuring when the time comes our communities can be up and running club, community and school rugby as quickly as possible.”
Robinson said NZR supported the decision led by the Heartland unions to cancel the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship for the 2020 season.
“It's a blow for the Heartland unions to lose their much-loved championships,” he said.
“Their top-level teams are the pride of their communities and it was a courageous decision by them in difficult times. The cancellation in 2020 will be a loss for local players and fans. It will no doubt be felt keenly by many.”
Ngati Porou East Coast chief executive Cushla Tangaere-Manuel said the decisions were based on the greater good of rugby.
“We are very disappointed that these tournaments won't happen this year, but we want rugby to keep thriving long after lockdown is lifted and our communities are safe to play our game,” she said
“Our three priorities in Heartland regions are our people, our clubs, then representative rugby, including the Heartland Championship. We understand these are the aspirational teams in our unions but we're confident making these decisions now will safeguard our game.”
Robinson said all the cancellations announced yesterday affected the 2020 season only, and no decisions beyond this year had been made. No decisions about the Mitre 10 Cup or Farah Palmer Cup had been made either.
THE decision to call off the Heartland Rugby Championship this season due to the Covid-19 crisis was made by all Heartland unions across the country, Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union chief executive Josh Willoughby said today.
“We, the PBRFU, were part of the decision-making process between New Zealand Rugby and the Heartland provincial unions,” Willoughby said.
“It's disappointing and it was not an easy decision, but the impact of Covid-19 is unprecedented and has hugely significant financial and social impacts on rugby.
“Like all businesses impacted by the situation, we have had to look at ourselves, and make compromises to see how New Zealand rugby can get through this crisis. The Poverty Bay union's priorities are now, and will always remain, our people and our community.
“Without people we don't have community rugby, and without community rugby we don't have Heartland rugby.”
Willoughby said another side to it was that it took a whole community to put a Heartland team together.
“The last thing we wanted to do in this situation was go out and ask our community for sponsorship when they were under extreme financial difficulties.”
He said he felt for the Heartland players in this situation.
“To them the Heartland is a chance to represent their communities and their whanau, with the Heartland Championship being the pinnacle of our community game.
“But we are hoping that when the window to play rugby again presents itself, we will give all our efforts to highlight and showcase our club rugby, which is also off for the winter.”
Willoughby said the union would do everything it could to support the clubs through this crisis.
“All Heartland union chief executives across the championship supported the decision not to play this season, and it is only for this season.”
— local reporting by Murray Robertson
