The Melbourne Rebels have been forced to scramble out of their home state and carpool to Canberra in a bid to save their Super Rugby AU season opener.
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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the state would re-enter stage four restrictions following a surge of COVID-19 cases linked to the Holiday Inn outbreak.
It forced the Rebels to pack up and relocate to Canberra for five days as they look to escape border restrictions before their first game of the season.
Melbourne have a first round bye which has been something of a blessing in disguise, and they are slated to face the Queensland Reds in Brisbane in round two on February 26.
Rebels chief executive Baden Stephenson says it is a sense of deja vu for players and staff after they were forced to relocate to Canberra and the Central Coast last season.
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"There have been that many moving pieces. We knew something might happen, and [on Thursday] night I went to my chairman and said 'here are six options for the Reds game in round two'," Stephenson said.
"Going to Canberra was not even one of the options, so it shows how much it changes on the run. We were potentially looking to go to Sanctuary Cove in Queensland.
"But by the time Andrews made his announcement, we jumped on a call with SANZAAR and Rugby Australia, and all flights to Brisbane and Sydney were gone. There was no time to get a bus.
"It was actually our leaders and our players who said 'no problem'. Given they are spread all over Melbourne, they decided it was easier if we carpooled and get ourselves there in our own time.
"It's bought us some time. We're very familiar with Canberra. At this stage we know we're in Canberra for five days. Do we stay in Canberra and try to get up to Brisbane? I'm not too sure, it will depend on Queensland borders."
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
