A Te Matatini delegate says a sense of aroha is behind a one-off rule change.
Kaihaka from groups which failed to make the cut for next year's competition will be able to compete with successful roopu from the same region, if they can gain a place.
Tainui delegate Paraone Gloyne says it acknowledges the exceptional circumstances of the Covid-19 lockdown, which led to Tainui, Taranaki, Ngāi Tahu, Te Tai Tokerau and Te Tairāwhiti being unable to complete their regional competition.
"It was agreed that those five rohe could pick their teams and that was out of line with our rules because you have to have a competition but we sort of relaxed that a bit to allow for those rohe which couldn't hold a regional competition so this is in the same vein. It's out of aroha. It's out of compassion," he says.
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