Bay of Plenty endured a marathon trip to Blenheim for their Air NZ Cup match against Tasman today.
The stormy conditions that have struck New Zealand meant the team took close to 30 hours to complete the journey before arriving in Blenheim just before 3.30pm today.
They left Tauranga at 10am on Wednesday, heading to Auckland by bus because Tauranga Airport was closed due to the weather conditions.
Those conditions were little better in Auckland, where the team's southbound flight was delayed more than once before they finally lifted off at 6pm.
The Bay of Plenty team arrived in Christchurch at 7.30pm and then boarded another bus for the 4-1/2-hour drive north to Blenheim.
They got as far as Kaikoura where they were forced to stay the night after stormy weather forced the closure of the main highway.
The team's trials were not over despite the road being reopened today, because their bus broke down and while repairs were carried out the latest setback delayed their arrival in Blenheim until mid-afternoon.
The match was due to start at 7.05pm local time.
Canterbury team to play Manawatu in an Air New Zealand Cup rugby match at Christchurch on Saturday:
Paul Williams, Scott Hamilton, Adam Whitelock, Tim Bateman, James Paterson, Hamish Gard, Tyson Keats, Mose Tuiali'i, Hayden Hopgood, Kieran Read (captain), James Broadhurst, Sam Whitelock, Campbell Johnstone, Steve Fualau, Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Richard Wheeler, Owen Franks, George Whitelock, Nasi Manu, Steve Alfeld, Colin Slade, Kosuke Endo.
North Harbour team to play Taranaki in an Air New Zealand Cup rugby match in New Plymouth tomorrow:
George Pisi, Viliame Waqaseduadua, Jamie Helleur, Mike Harris, Rudi Wulf, Jimmy Gopperth (captain), Chris Smylie, Viliame Maafu, Robbie Colhoun, Tom Chamberlain, Bernie Upton, Chris Smith, Sam Biddles, James Hinchco, James Afoa.
Reserves: James Parsons, Michael Reid, Richard Mayhew, Malakai Ravulo, Matt France, Nafi Tuitavaki, Hayden Abercrombie.
Otago team named today to play Southland in their Air NZ Cup rugby match at Rugby Park in Invercargill on Saturday:
Glen Horton, Karne Hesketh/Ben Smith, Brett Mather, Aaron Bancroft, Lucky Mulipola, Chris Noakes, Toby Morland, Paul Grant, Craig Newby (captain), Seko Qaraniqio, Tom Donnelly, Ross Kennedy, Jed Vercoe, Jason Macdonald, Keith Cameron. Reserves: Peter Mirrielees, Jeremy Aldworth, Uili Koloofai, Hoani Matenga, Sean Romans, Dan Snee, Ben Smith/Casey Stone.
Southland team named today for the Air NZ Cup rugby match against Otago in Invercargill on Saturday:-
Mark Wells, Matt Saunders, Kendrick Lynn, Jason Kawau (captain), Pehi Te Whare, Blair Stewart, Dane Shelford, Noa Soqeta, Tim Boys, Hoani Macdonald, Daniel Ramsay, Josh Bekhuis, Chris King, Matt Holloway, Fai Mika.
Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Michael Peterson, Dion Bates, Hua Tamariki/John Hardie, Scott Cowan, Willie Rickards, Robbie Robinson.