LIST | The four British & Irish players to look out for when Super Rugby returns

The government has said professional sport would be able to resume behind closed doors when the alert level was changed from three to two, with a decision due on 11 May.

The five teams will play each other home and away over 10 weeks, with two matches every weekend.

All matches will be played in closed stadiums. Here are the four players from Britain and Ireland who will be taking part:

The centre is a gifted English centre from the Premiership club Harlequins. He made his debut for the club in 2014 and has gone on to make more than 85 appearances for the famous London club.

Marchant represented England U20s at both the 2015 and 2016 editions of the tournament. In 2019 Joe made his first test appearance for England off the bench against Wales, before making his starting debut against Italy that same year.

Marchant joined the Blues for the 2020 season on loan and is looking to test himself in the fires of the southern hemisphere’s premier club rugby competition.

Born in London before moving to Ireland, Jager made his way into the Crusaders squad in 2017 via the Crusaders International High Performance Unit, after an impressive debut provincial season with Canterbury in 2016. 

He played for the Ireland U18 Schools side in 2013 but when he missed selection for the Leinster academy system, Jager decided to pursue his rugby dream in Canterbury. He did a month long programme at the Crusaders International High Performance Unit and impressed enough to be asked to return for a shot at club rugby in 2014. 

Despite arriving in Christchurch as a Number 8, Jager was convinced to convert to tighthead prop by current Crusaders Forwards Coach Jason Ryan. 2020 will be Oli's fourth season as part of the Crusaders squad.

The Ireland U20 prop  joined the Highlanders on a short-term deal after a recent spell with the Crusaders that saw him feature in a pre-season friendly.

23-year-old Sligo man O’Donnell was released by his native Connacht at the end of last season and has taken the road less travelled since.

He joined the Sunwolves in Japan last year and made five Super Rugby appearances before moving to New Zealand to sign with Counties Manukau in the Mitre 10 Cup.

O’Donnell’s performances for the province caught the attention of the Kiwi Super Rugby franchises and after a spell with the Crusaders during pre-season, O’Donnell has now linked up with the Highlanders.

Born in Scotland, he moved to New Zealand aged seven and attended St Kentigern’s College in Auckland before heading to Canterbury to study. Christie is a former New Zealand gymnastics representative.

He played for the Chiefs making his debut against the Hurricanes in 2017 before opting to take up a contract with the Hurricanes where he made his debut in 2018 against the Sunwolves.

Christie went on to make 14 appearances during his time with the Hurricanes before returning home to the Blues for the 2020 season.

With plenty of St Kent’s alumni in the Blues squad, including Blake Gibson, Sam Nock, Dalton Papalii and Tanielu Tele’a, Finlay will find plenty of familiar faces to welcome him into the Blues family.

Christie was a key part of Tasman’s run to the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership final in 2017, and his familiarity with Leon MacDonald’s game plan and structures will mean the competition for the Number 9 jersey will be an exciting one for Blues fans to watch during the 2020 Super Rugby season.