Christchurch RWC hopes dashed
16 Mar 2011
Rugby World Cup minister Murray McCully confirmed that no games will be played in Christchurch at the tournament later this year.
After the devastating earthquake that ravaged the South Island city, it was believed that Christchurch would still be able to host their seven World Cup fixtures (five group games and two quarter-finals) in September and October. However, McCully said Christchurch has lost its World Cup hosting rights in an official announcement on Wednesday.
McCully apologised to Christchurch residents and mayor Bob Parker for the decision. He explained that the damage was just too great for the government and organisers to be able guarantee the stadium would be ready in time. McCully also said there was an issue around finding enough accommodation for fans.
All the group fixtures will be moved to other venues while the two quarter-finals will be played in Auckland.
Fixture changes:
Group Games (venues TBC):
September 10 – Argentina v England
September 11 – Australia v Italy
September 18 – England v Georgia
September 25 – Argentina v Scotland
October 1 – Australia v Russia
Quarter-finals (moved to Auckland)
October 8 – Quarterfinal 2
October 9 – Quarterfinal 4
16 Comments
16 Mar 2011, 09:43 am
tough luck dragons
16 Mar 2011, 11:12 am
Feel really sorry for the people in Christchurch. What a shame this disaster has cost them pleny lives and the only good thing to look forward to would have been the rugby later in the year. Sad for them really.
Hope who ever has the Chch games all the money made at those stadiums go to Christchurch.
16 Mar 2011, 11:14 am
Now they know for sure,
they can get on with other priorities.
The things that need urgent attention.
Without having to attend to RWC.
Though this will bitterly disappoint Canterbury Rugby Fans,
It may be a blessing in disguise.
16 Mar 2011, 11:18 am
@cane(cane)-3: Feel sorry for the people in Chch Cane. Having to deal with the disaster. Now missing out on holding some of the wc games. Is a huge blow. Though right now don’t think many will be thinking of that yet. Come the time though they will feel disappointed.
Hope all the money made at the other stadiums that hold the Chch games all the money goes to the Chch Disaster Fund.
They could even make it cheaper for the Chch people to travel to those games. That would be a nice gesture.
16 Mar 2011, 11:25 am
big shame for Canterbury and her people, and also the tourists who Im sure would have found it a great place to enjoy the WC.
thoughts are with all those affected in Japan too…the footage is very apocolyptic and devestating…
Kia Kaha.
16 Mar 2011, 11:30 am
@Puma(Puma)-4:
I think this was the only desison that could be made Puma.
They are trying to keep Pool Games Scheduled for CHCH, in the South Island.
And there is talk of other gestures, including good travel deals.
The Triple Disaster in Japan,
Quake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Calamity. Should be making us all feel humble.
Those pictures are horrendous.
Japanese Urban Rescue teams only left NZ last week to go home.
Now Ours have flown there.
16 Mar 2011, 11:33 am
desison = decision.
Spelling Police,
Put your weapons back in there holsters.
16 Mar 2011, 12:22 pm
seems bad but was expected
16 Mar 2011, 12:39 pm
@stew(stew)-8:
An extra couple of Tests next year, (at AMI Stadium) might help heal the wound stew.
Give you guys time to get things back to some semblance of normality.
16 Mar 2011, 13:07 pm
They waited 24 years for this day only for the quake to break their stadium. Shame.
16 Mar 2011, 18:13 pm
Out of interest, is the Jade stadium to the All Blacks what Ellis Park is to the Boks? A fortress?
16 Mar 2011, 19:50 pm
Hope Christchurch will recover. Life ir primary, only then comes RWC.
And hang on, Japan.
16 Mar 2011, 20:45 pm
@BishopsOD(BishopsOD)-11: It’s not Jade Stadium any more but AMI Stadium. And, for the no-brand purist, it’s Lancaster Park.
And it’s not as much of fortress as Eden Park in Auckland or even Carisbrook in Dunedin — the 1965 Boks (who were really useless) won only 1 test out of 4 on tour and that was when lock Tiny Naude kicked a long-range penalty in the rain and mud at Lancaster Park, Christchurch to win it. And the 1937 Boks won there too.
Ellis Park isn’t much of a true fortress either. The 2009 British Lions won the most recent test played there. France won there in 2001 and NZ in 1997.
Compare that with Eden Park where SA last won in 1937 or Carisbrook, where Ricky January’s chip-chase bounced right and broke a long duck going right back to 1928.
16 Mar 2011, 23:11 pm
Sad day for Chch !!
17 Mar 2011, 08:23 am
Sad and probably the only decision that could be made. It did annoy me though that some English git, on the IRB, leaked the decision to an English hack, before the official announcement.
The English really are the most arrogant of people and having made their fortune through racism, piracy, and drug peddling, have no real grounds for such an attitude.
18 Mar 2011, 22:44 pm
@cane(cane)-7: Spelling Police,
Put your weapons back in there holsters.
Their holsters.
There. Done it.
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