Olympics-Oceania rugby sevens powers band together before battling at Tokyo

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Sevens - Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games - Men's Gold Medal Match - New Zealand v Fiji - Robina Stadium - Gold Coast, Australia - April 15, 2018. New Zealand's players celebrate as Sammi Viriviri (R) of Fiji looks on. REUTERS/Paul Childs/File Photo

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A dearth of international competition during the COVID-19 pandemic has torn up the form guide for Olympic rugby sevens but medal contenders New Zealand and Australia will gain valuable insight into their Tokyo preparations in Auckland next week.

The trans-Tasman neighbours are fierce rivals on the field but have worked congenially off it to set up the May 21-23 series in Auckland, which comes only weeks after authorities approved quarantine-free travel from Australia..