Mauger slams Melbourne move

Mauger slams Melbourne move

21 Feb 2006

Crusader centre Aaron Mauger has criticised the prospect of his side playing home Vodacom Super 14 matches in Melbourne.

The Crusaders are playing the Sharks in Timaru on Saturday night, because the Black caps are playing the West Indies in a ODI at Jade Stadium.

The Crusaders played a pre-season match against the Western Force at Melbourne’s Olympic Park and drew 11 500 people. This has led to speculation that Crusaders’ Super 14 matches could also be moved to Australia when there’s a clash.

“I think it would be wrong to take it away from our own provinces and our own Crusaders’ region,” Mauger told The Press. “These are the people that support us and if it’s purely for a financial reason, then there’s no way we should do it.”

The franchise would expect to make more money for matches played in Melbourne than those in smaller centres such as Timaru and Nelson, benefiting the seven unions which it represents.

However, the financial side is of little concern to Mauger, who says money should not be put ahead of the loyal fans from the smaller provinces in the Crusaders’ catchment.

“The people are the ones who make us who we are, and help us be who we are,” he said. “They play a big part of what the Crusaders are all about and I think it would be a shame if we took it away from our own supporters in New Zealand.

“It’s always good going to smaller regions because there’s always lots of enthusiasm around. We’ve always been well received in Nelson when we’ve gone up there and I’m sure Timaru will be no different and looking forward to having us down there.”


15 Comments

  • 1.munkiboi: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 11:22 am

    greed has no end.

  • 2.St.Petersburgbok: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 11:25 am

    :lol:

    And some silly plonkers awarded these okes the World Cup?

    Can see it now.
    WC semi-final.
    All Blacks vs Boks
    Canberra 2011

  • 3.CoffeeshopBok;-): Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 11:26 am

    Well with the amount of kiwis on the dole over there, they’d expect to have a sell out like a home game anyway :-)

  • 4.JUSM: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 11:27 am

    rediculous. wonder what tackler has to say about this?

  • 5.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 11:35 am

    Crusaders should play one or two of their home games in places like Trafalgar Park, Nelson. After all, Nelson Bays (once coached to top-of-the-table NPC fame and glory by none other than Balie Swart) are part of the Crusaders franchise.

  • 6.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 12:08 pm

    Yes and they got the WC with f-all stadia.

  • 7.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 12:09 pm

    Spot on St P.

    But the Kiwi’s are invincible. Play the final at Ellis Park. (We’ll keep Suzie away Tackleballs)

  • 8.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 12:21 pm

    Hmmmmm?

  • 9.pierre: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 12:24 pm

    Bloody hell. How can you give the World Cup to a village on a remote island that can’t even muster enough stadiums to accommodate the meagre number of fans that want to watch their local teams? Most of NZ’s “bigger” stadiums are only about the size of Boland Park in Wellington, anyway.

  • 10.lissaawood: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 12:29 pm

    CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME IF I CAN GET THE SUPER 14 COVERAGE ON THE RADIO OVER THE INTERNET. PLEASE PLEASE HELP. I LIVE IN THE UK AND GET HARDLY ANY LIVE COVERAGE OF THE GAMES. PLEASE MY FELLOW SOUTH AFRICANS HELP

  • 11.BrumbyIV: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 14:01 pm

    yeah it was ridiculous that NZ got awarded the world cup hosting rights. How many caravans can you park at the ground in Timaru?

    Aaron, Rugby is a business, deal with it plus they have fans in Melbourne.

  • 12.JUSM: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 14:20 pm

    lissaawood,

    yes you can on RSG or if you are fealing a bit wacky try Radio Pretoria.

    http://www.radiopretoria.co.za/

    also check this out:

    http://www.southafrica.info/public_services/sa_abroad/sa_communities/streamingradio.htm

    i listened lots while in the UK. all in afrikaans. hope that’s not a problem :)

  • 13.JUSM: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 14:23 pm

    lissaawood,

    check this out:

    http://www.southafrica.info/public_services/sa_abroad/sa_communities/streamingradio.htm

    i found streaming rugby transmissions on RSG and Radio Pretoria while in the UK. all in afrikaans obviously, so hope that’s not a problem!

    “..en hy word hard gelak daar aan die oorkant van die veld!”

  • 14.BrumbyIV: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 14:35 pm

    games in NZ are done by radiosport on delay i think. in Aus by the Brumbies games are covered by the local ABC network. Tahs 2GB and/or 2UE. Reds not sure. Force 6PR.

  • 15.Figjam: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 16:03 pm

    If Aaron had passed his schooling as well as he passes the ball, then he would realise that in a professional game, the supporters that attend the game contribute towards the Clubs finances.
    If he would like to play for free in Nelson, then no problem, they can arrange the game there.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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