Sevens in Wellington and Nines this weekend at Eden Park.
The winter codes are emulating their summer brethren who have poured bastardised versions of the real game into the cricket calendar.
In rugby who suffers? Super Rugby of course, the tournament which is supposed to hold our attention from the February 26 kickoff through its June recess until the winner is decided on August 6.
This year, the 21st since the tournament dipped its toes into the professional world, the series will undergo its fourth change of format in an expanded 18-team tournament with four conferences divided into two groups.
The original Super 12 lasted for a decade before organisers bumped it up to the Super 14 for a five-year spell then switched it to the conference-based Super 15 series for another five-year gig.