News

Family-friendly kick-off times are in store for Counties Manukau rugby supporters after the PIC Steelers’ draw for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup was confirmed today.

The competition start date has moved back a month due to COVID-19 and new head coach Tai Lavea and his team will have a exciting test first-up when the defending champion Tasman Mako come to Pukekohe for the season opener at Navigation Homes on September 12. The match kicks off at 7:05pm.

With All Blacks likely to be available in the early rounds of the competition, the PIC Steelers’ first home game promises to be a cracker.

The Tasman game also coincides with club finals day, which will see the Premier 1, 2 and 3 deciders take place at Navigation Homes Stadium on the same day with the McNamara Cup, Bob Chandler Cup and the Sid Marshall Shield up for grabs.

The Saturday fixture is one of four weekend home games scheduled in the revised, post-COVID draw with home games against Northland, Manawatu and Wellington all locked in at fan-favourite afternoon kick-off times.

To round out the regular season, the PIC Steelers will also host Southland at Navigation Homes Stadium on Friday, November 13, with kick off at 7:05pm.

“We’re rapt with the new-look draw released by New Zealand Rugby today,” CMRFU CEO Aaron Lawton said.

“We’ve lobbied hard to have home games here in Pukekohe in the family-friendly, weekend slots and those have been delivered.

“That week one game against Tasman is going to be a huge occasion and we’ll be calling on PIC Steelers fans to help pack out Navigation Homes Stadium and get behind the boys.”

Away from home, Lavea’s team will have road trips to Napier, Hamilton, Dunedin, Albany and New Plymouth.

Season tickets for the upcoming campaign are set to go on-sale in July with individual games to follow shortly afterwards.