1 Apr 2011

Twickenham blacklist threatened

11:56 am on 1 April 2011

English rugby clubs are threatening to blacklist Twickenham for next year's premiership final after the Crusaders played the Sharks there last week.

It was the first time a SANZAR match had been played outside New Zealand, Australia or South Africa.

Daily Telegraph rugby correspondent Gavin Mairs told Morning Report that clubs don't want any more 'Super Rugby' games in London.

He said the clubs feel the Christchurch earthquake was used by the RFU to allow the game to go ahead.

Mairs said there were also concerns that too many games were planned for Twickenham next year, over the space of a month.

Old Trafford in Manchester is being considered as an alternative venue for the premiership final.

The match was won by the Crusaders 44-28 before a crowd of 35,000. They led 34-18 at half-time.

SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters says the fixture took place with the full agreement of the English RFU - and this is the first he's heard of any premiership clubs being upset.

He says there are no plans for any future 'super' matches in the northern hemisphere.