With Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday announcing the alert levels in the country will stay the same, the game at Forsyth Barr Stadium between the Hurricanes and Highlanders will go ahead but in front of empty stands.
Gatherings are limited to 100 people and it will be members of players’ families who will be at the game.
The game has been moved to the earlier time of 3.05pm. NZ Rugby had agreed with Government requests to have the game moved from 7.05pm to allow the Hurricanes players to fly to Dunedin and return home in one day.
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said the franchise was keen to still play the game.
"It is bittersweet as when you look at the support we have had from our supporters, which has been outstanding.
"It would have been great to have all the fans there, especially with Ash [co-captain Ash Dixon] playing his 100th game and Aaron [co-captain Aaron Smith] playing his 150th," he said.
"That would have been fantastic for the fans but we all understand the decision that has been made and support it."
Clark said moving the game to 3.05pm would help people not go to club rugby, as they could stay home and watch the Super rugby match.
Club games were taking place around the country but spectators were being encouraged to stay at home.
The Hurricanes team would fly to Dunedin on a chartered flight this morning, go straight to the stadium where it would be based in one of the lounges. It would warm up on the field, play the game and then head straight back to Dunedin Airport. It had to be back at Wellington Airport by 9pm.
With a crowd of up to 20,000 expected it was undoubtedly a financial blow to the Highlanders but Clark said looking at the bigger picture it was great to be playing and taking part in a competition which looked unlikely a few months ago.
Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said it was great the game would go ahead and the health and safety of the players and management was the top priority.
The match between the Blues and the Crusaders in Auckland on Sunday has been canned, as Auckland is in Alert Level 3.
