Twickenham a no-go for Crusaders

[beige]

The Crusaders' proposal to move their Super Rugby clash with the Sharks to Twickenham has been given a red light by the Rugby Football Union.

The Christchurch-based franchise had hoped to move the fixture, scheduled for March 26, to London after the AMI Stadium was damaged in the recent earthquake.

The large expat community in the English capital was seen a potential source to make up for lost revenue.

The RFU were eager to help but have decided that the logistical challenges were too great, particularly with neighbours Harlequins playing Gloucester in England's domestic championship on the same day.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...804336,00.html

[Burgs]

Tight arsed Pommy pricks.

[Happy]

that speaks of junket .. plent of closer stadiums to play it - what a waste of money!!

[jargan83]

What are the odds of Harlequins vs Gloucester being a sell out?

Potential double header?

[.X.]

What were they thinking as is anyone in the Northern Hemisphere would be interested in watching a match from the best provincial competition in the world.

[Burgs]

That's probably close to the truth, they didn't want the locals to see how much better the southern product was
Crusaders v Sharks should (would have been) be a great advertisement for Rugby in general.

Quins ground (Twickenham Stoop) is only 14,816 capacity Jargs, you would hope they would sell out! Perhaps NZRU should have gone straight to Quins and Gloucester first, brokered a deal to do a double header at Twikkers, then gone to the RFU to get the signature. Wins all round then, except for the standard of NH issue...

[jargan83]

Quins ground (Twickenham Stoop) is only 14,816 capacity Jargs, you would hope they would sell out! Perhaps NZRU should have gone straight to Quins and Gloucester first, brokered a deal to do a double header at Twikkers, then gone to the RFU to get the signature. Wins all round then, except for the standard of NH issue...

That explains something - I saw Twickenham and figured it meant the ground England played at, I was scratching my head over that

[Burgs]

Ahh, yeah that would be that "neighbours" bit.

The total capacity of the combined Premier stadia is 189,859, so if on average you can halve that to 94,930 I guess they could all have a shot at the 80k Twickenham.

I find it really quite amazing the low capacities of all these Premier stadia.
In '08 when I was at Sixways there was a five year waiting list for membership in the 12k stadium.
Mind you they commenced building the redevelopment to eventually get to 20k and promptly got relegated...


Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Recreation Ground 12,300 Bath, Somerset
Exeter Chiefs Sandy Park 10,744 Exeter, Devon
Gloucester Kingsholm Stadium 16,500 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins Twickenham Stoop 14,816 Twickenham, Middlesex/London
Leeds Headingley Stadium 22,250 Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 24,000 Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish Madejski Stadium 24,161 Reading, Berkshire
London Wasps Adams Park 10,516 High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park 10,200 Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 13,600 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Sale Sharks Edgeley Park 10,852 Stockport, Greater Manchester
Saracens Vicarage Road 19,920 Watford, Hertfordshire
Total 189,859

[Sheikh]

Looks like it's back on, but a day later: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011...harks-super-15

Interestingly, the Crusaders won't be affected by a short week, as they have the following week as their bye, and the Skarks have the last match on the following Saturday.

[beige]

Good to hear.

[Burgs]

They are still tight arse's...