Weekend Mitre 10 cup games in store at Navigation Homes Stadium

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.

DATEKICK OFFMATCHVENUECITY
Saturday 12th Sept7:05pmCounties Manukau v TasmanNavigation Homes StadiumPukekohe
Sunday 20th Sept2.05pmHawke’s Bay v Counties ManukauMcLean ParkNapier
Sunday 27th  Sept4.35pmCounties Manukau v NorthlandNavigation Homes StadiumPukekohe
Saturday 03rd Oct2.05pm Counties Manukau v Manawatu Navigation Homes StadiumPukekohe
Saturday 10th Oct7.05pm Waikato v Counties Manukau FMG Stadium WaikatoHamilton
Sunday 18th  Oct2.05pmOtago v Counties Manukau Forsyth Barr StadiumDunedin
Sunday 25th Oct2.05pm Counties Manukau v Wellington Navigation Homes StadiumPukekohe
Sunday 01st Nov4.35pm Taranaki v Counties Manukau TET Stadium & Events CentreInglewood
Saturday 07th Nov4.35pm North Harbour v Counties Manukau North Harbour Stadium North Harbour
Friday 13th Nov7.05pm Counties Manukau v Southland Navigation Homes StadiumPukekohe
20th-21st Nov Semi Finals  
27th-28th Nov Finals