Due to Ex-Cyclone Cook the Bay of Plenty Rugby has postponed all Baywide Club Rugby Competition matches that were set to take place today and Friday.

'The following decisions regarding Bay of Plenty senior rugby have been made taking into account the safety of teams and referees,” says a BOPRU spokesperson.

Today's matches, Te Puna v Mount Maunganui Sports at Maramatanga Park, and Te Puke Sports v Paroa at Murray Salt Stadium, have been rescheduled to Saturday, April 15, with Development matches kicking-off at 1pm, and Premier matches at 2.45pm.

While all games scheduled for Friday, April 14, are postponed, no games are to be played, and no referees will be available. These matches include:

• Whakarewarewa v Whakatane Marist at Puarenga Park - Rescheduled to: Monday, April 17. Development kick-off: 1pm/Premier kick-off: 2.45pm
• Greerton Marist v Poroporo at Greerton Park - Rescheduled to: Saturday, April 15. Development kick-off: 12.15pm/Premier kick-off: 2.30pm
• Opotiki v Kahukura at Princess St Reserve - TBC
• Papamoa v Marist St Michaels at Gordon Spratt Reserve - TBC
• Katikati v Ruatoki at Moore Park - TBC
• Judea v Waikite at Maharaia Winiata Memorial Park – TBC

Games postponed from Thursday 13 and Friday, April 13-14, will be officially scheduled to be played on Anzac day, April 25, after 1pm. If teams mutually agree, games can either be played Easter Monday or another date agreed by both clubs.

While all games scheduled for Saturday, April 15, will go ahead as planned. But the BOPRU will continue to look at the forecast to see if any changes need to be made, with a further update to be provided by 12pm on Friday. These games include:

• Rotoiti v Tauranga Sports at Emery Park
• Rangataua v Arataki at Te Ariki Park
• Ngongotaha v Waimana at Ngongotaha Domain

'Any further updates will be posted on the BOP Rugby facebook page and BOP Rugby website. We encourage everyone to follow local council instructions to ensure everyone's safety is a priority during this time.”

For more information, visit www.boprugby.co.nz