Rugby return in New Zealand ‘an experiment’ says Ayrshire Bulls chief

Glen Tippett’s homeland preparing for pro games

Ayrshire Bulls chief Glen Tippett was also an assistant coach of the Scotland Club XV. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS/SRU

New Zealand seems a long way away at the best of times but, in these worst of times, it’s more like light years.

As we here in the UK and Europe grapple with the devastating impact of the Covid-19 virus, at the other end of the world the planet’s greatest rugby nation is planning to get back up and running, albeit cautiously and initially behind closed doors by the middle of next month.

Coronavirus came later to New Zealand than us and, by then, the Kiwis had learned the lesson and imposed a strict military-backed lockdown immediately. The result so far is 21 deaths and around 1,500 cases.

This week it was announced that professional rugby would resume in mid-June with an Aotearoa (Maori for “Land of the Long White Cloud”) Super Rugby competition between the Waikato Chiefs, Auckland Blues, Canterbury Crusaders, Wellington Hurricanes and Otago Highlanders.

One of many Kiwis here in Scotland is Glen Tippett, the stalwart former Ayr league-winning flanker, Scotland Club XV assistant coach and, until recently furloughed, chief operating officer of the Super 6 Ayrshire Bulls 
franchise.

A long way from home in some ways, though Ayrshire has been home, with his wife and two sons, for a dozen years now and, speaking in his own capacity from lockdown in Prestwick, he said: “Obviously there has been a lot of concern from back home as they see what’s happening up here, worry about the grandkids and such but we’ve been assuring them we’re safe and well.”

Tippett welcomed the return of some form of rugby back in his homeland but confessed that, against his usual instincts, he was struggling to see an optimistic short-mid-term future for the sport he loves passionately.

“It’s going to be an experiment and let’s see how it goes but even in somewhere like New Zealand which has not been hit hard by this horrible thing, the way the virus is there will be so many side issues.

“From hygiene, spitting for example, testing and the ramifications if anyone involved in a match develops even the mildest of symptoms after,” he added.

Since the NZRU confirmed the launch of the domestic competition earlier this week, plus plans for provincial games and a return of netball, more details have emerged around the strict guidelines pro rugby players will be placed under to take part in the ten-week tournament.

While different from the coronavirus, flu jabs have been recommended but not mandated as a precaution and players will not be allowed in the New Zealand pubs when they re-open next week. Yes, open pubs can you believe? Overnight large queues formed across the nation’s two islands at midnight when barbers and hairdressers re-opened as a country more associated with sheep-shearing found a new kind of harvest.

“There is no blueprint for anything right now, it’s a case of charting our way forward and seeing how it goes,” said Tippett, a Taranaki boy who played rugby and cricket with current NZRU chief Mark 
Robertson in their youths.

“If there is a positive then this may be an opportunity to make some of the big changes in how rugby around the world is structured, which is long overdue, to reshape it in a more workable way but these are clearly not the ideal 
circumstances,” he said.

“The first priority here at the moment is the health and wellbeing of the people but we all know there is an economic, possibly a huge one, looming and it gives you pause.

“You wonder how rugby as it is now can pay the bills. Without those home Test matches at Murrayfield it will be a struggle, and that is replicated around the world. And then you even wonder if ‘Joe Bloggs’ will be able or willing to pay for a ticket once this has come under control. But we’re all in this as a society.”

Tippett said the abandoned Super 6 was now in silent shutdown until things become clearer. “The SRU are doing all they can in what is an unprecedented situation and, like everyone else right now, it’s just a case of wait and see,” he said.

A former Glasgow South development officer, he did raise fears about the long-term impact of lockdown.

“My concern is the longer it goes on the more impact it will have” he said. “The saying is ‘new normal’ and it could get to the stage where kids have found new interests, and you can see parents maybe being wary initially about sending their kids back to rugby.

“But we can’t be negative.”

You would never expect a Kiwi rugby man to be.

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