For the stars of rugby at international, super and provincial level, a return to the field will eventually happen.
But spare a thought for the schoolboys, who've lost the chance to play out the pinnacle of their high school careers.
All Blacks Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie know all about playing at the highest level, but they still have fond memories of their first big-match experiences nearly a decade ago, playing first XV schoolboy rugby in Christchurch.
"At that age, there's 2000-5000 people there... it's pretty surreal," recalls Lienert-Brown. "It's a massive part of your development as a rugby player."
Lienert-Brown attended Christchurch Boys High, while McKenzie played for Christ's College, and the traditional match between the two schools is one of the biggest annual secondary school clashes in the country.
But many Year 13 players around New Zealand may be denied their only chance to play in these clashes, due to COVID-19.
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