10 Mar 2011

Eden Park firms as favourite for Crusaders

6:57 pm on 10 March 2011

The odds are shortening on Eden Park as an alternative venue for the Crusaders' home games as the Christchurch Super Rugby franchise awaits news on the damaged AMI Stadium.

A report on the former Lancaster Park's due on Tuesday from the operators, while the government heard today from its own people, after the earthquake put AMI in doubt for the Rugby World Cup.

Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach admits Eden Park's among all the options being looked at, and Riach points out that there's something of a hurry on, while the goverment's more focused on the World Cup outcome.

He says that's understandable but that tournament starts in September while the Crusaders' needs are rather more pressing.

The Crusaders play the Brumbies at Nelson's Trafalgar Park on Friday.

The Crusaders' next home game after that is the end of the month, against South African side the Sharks - and the England rugby union's rejected the possibility of playing that game at Twickenham in London, as Harlequins and Gloucester play at the nearby Stoop ground and the RFU doesn't have the resources to run two fixtures on the same day.