Rugby: National Provincial Championship organisers determined to play out full schedule despite COVID delays

New Zealand's COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions have forced the postponement of all domestic rugby for at least another week, but organisers remain determined to play out the full schedule.

At this stage, they do not plan to shorten the season.

"Everyone agrees that we should do whatever we can to play a full season this year," says NZ Rugby community rugby general manager Steve Lancaster. "If that means pushing the season out, if that means playing midweek games - all options are on the table."

Meanwhile, players have been forced to get creative to maintain their fitness.

Home workouts help, but players can't replicate in-game scenarios and there are growing worries about the players safety, especially with the lack of contact and tackling.

"It's a real concern around the scrum and the tackle, because they're not doing all that player welfare and player safety," says Auckland assistant coach Craig McGrath.

"If this [lockdown] goes any longer, we are going to have to take that into account."

Players have been left to train in their bubbles in their own time.

"They're just finding their own time of the day," says Wellington director of rugby Leo Crowley. "Whatever suits their wellbeing to get the training done."

Watch the full story above