For this Sunday's second Bledisloe Cup match against Australia, New Zealand Rugby is preparing for nearly 47,000 fans to fill the stands at Eden Park.
Images circulating on social media have drawn significant attention, showing roughly 31,000 maskless fans gathering in Wellington last weekend to support their team.
While most sports fans worldwide are relegated to watching empty stadiums from their living rooms, the upcoming All Blacks match will be a source of jealousy for many. Such large gatherings are only possible because New Zealand successfully suppressed the spread of COVID-19 through a rigorous nationwide lockdown earlier in the year.
Despite a resurgence of cases in Auckland back in August, new lockdown protocols successfully contained the virus. NZR reported on Tuesday that tickets are selling fast, with 40,000 already sold for this Sunday's game.
Starting October 31, Sydney’s Olympic Stadium in Australia will host the Rugby Championship, bringing together teams from South Africa, Argentina, and the traditional trans-Tasman rivals.
Effective October 1, the New South Wales government eased lockdown rules for major venues, permitting them to operate at 50% capacity. This decision follows a significant daily decline in community transmission cases within the region.
As a result, the Olympic Stadium will be able to welcome 40,000 spectators for its three scheduled tests, while the Western Sydney Stadium can accommodate 15,000 fans for its four matches.
Chris Lendrum of NZR recently expressed his delight at seeing the massive crowd in Wellington for the first test in over a year, noting that the intensity of the game further fueled fan excitement. He added that they are eager to bring top-tier rugby back to New Zealand's biggest city, especially since over 40,000 tickets for the upcoming weekend have already been purchased.
Following a seven-month break caused by the pandemic, Sunday's thrilling 16-16 draw marked the return of rugby union tests, giving fans plenty of reason to be excited about the matches scheduled for the coming months.