Canterbury Crusaders find alternatives for two more 'home' games

The Canterbury Crusaders will play two further 'home' Super rugby games outside of their catchment region in Napier and Wellington, the Canterbury Rugby Union (CRU) has confirmed.

The Crusaders, who are in London preparing for their clash against South Africa's Sharks at Twickenham on Sunday, have been forced to look for alternative venues for their home matches after a devastating earthquake in Christchurch on 22 February. The 6.3-magnitude tremor killed at least 166 people, flattened much of the central city and badly damaged the playing surface and stands at Lancaster Park. The damage also forced rugby World Cup organisers to move five pool and two quarter-finals away from Christchurch later this year. The Crusaders played their first two home games at Trafalgar Park in Nelson before they went to London for the match against the Sharks in an attempt to offset the loss of revenue by being forced to play in smaller venues.

Their next home match will be in the South Canterbury town of Timaru against the champion Bulls on 9 April before they return to Nelson on 23 April for their match against fellow New Zealand side the Otago Highlanders. They then embark on a three-week road trip for matches against the Western Force in Perth, Stormers in Cape Town and Cheetahs in Bloemfontein before returning to New Zealand for their home match against the Waikato Chiefs at Napier's McLean Park on 21 May.

Their final two games are against the Auckland Blues on Timaru on 11 June and against the Wellington Hurricanes in the final round on 18 June in Wellington. Their second round match against the Hurricanes in Wellington was declared a scoreless draw as it was scheduled for 26 February, just four days after the quake.

"Playing the Hurricanes in Wellington feels like a really appropriate way to repay the wonderful support we got from the Hurricanes at the time of the abandoned round two game," CRU chief executive Hamish Riach said.