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NEW ZEALAND league fans might have the Anzac Test in their backyard next year but a scheduling issue has caused the Sydney Roosters to pull their NRL ''home'' game from Christchurch's AMI Stadium next June.
The Roosters, who played the Warriors at the venue as one of their home games in round 16 this year as a chance to profit from a bigger crowd than they would normally get in Sydney, were set to return to Christchurch in June next year.
The NRL handed them a home game as requested but trips to Townsville and Melbourne either side of the proposed Christchurch date meant the Roosters have decided to change their plans. Vbase runs the stadium and general manager of business development, Aland Garner, said it was disappointing but understandable.
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''The game had been scheduled for the first weekend in June,'' he told Sunday News. ''The Roosters had requested a home game from the NRL and they obliged. But what happened, and it's really just unfortunate, is that the Roosters had a game scheduled in Townsville the previous weekend and in Melbourne the following weekend.
''Roosters CEO Steve Noyce contacted us with some concerns around the club's travel during that time. It was going to be something like six weeks in a row where the Roosters would not be playing at home.
''He said that having thought through that, they needed to play that game at home in Sydney instead. While that's disappointing, we understand the reasons why the Roosters are going to play in Sydney and not Christchurch.''
Garner is confident the Roosters will return to the Garden City in 2012 and said the NRL had also canvassed other clubs to gauge their interest in playing there.
''Our intention is for the Roosters to come back to AMI Stadium the following year but obviously that would be subject to an agreement being reached between the Roosters, the NRL and us,'' he said.
''We haven't looked at that yet. The NRL has asked other clubs if they are interested in bringing home games to Christchurch … but at this stage, the draw is done and I doubt another club could bring a game here for next year. It's unfortunate for league fans in Christchurch because they clearly have an appetite for the NRL.''
Meanwhile, rugby league is also set for a return to Eden Park early next year. Sunday News understands the Warriors will lock horns with Stephen Kearney's Eels at the iconic ground in round one.
The Roosters, who played the Warriors at the venue as one of their home games in round 16 this year as a chance to profit from a bigger crowd than they would normally get in Sydney, were set to return to Christchurch in June next year.
The NRL handed them a home game as requested but trips to Townsville and Melbourne either side of the proposed Christchurch date meant the Roosters have decided to change their plans. Vbase runs the stadium and general manager of business development, Aland Garner, said it was disappointing but understandable.
Advertisement: Story continues below
''The game had been scheduled for the first weekend in June,'' he told Sunday News. ''The Roosters had requested a home game from the NRL and they obliged. But what happened, and it's really just unfortunate, is that the Roosters had a game scheduled in Townsville the previous weekend and in Melbourne the following weekend.
''Roosters CEO Steve Noyce contacted us with some concerns around the club's travel during that time. It was going to be something like six weeks in a row where the Roosters would not be playing at home.
''He said that having thought through that, they needed to play that game at home in Sydney instead. While that's disappointing, we understand the reasons why the Roosters are going to play in Sydney and not Christchurch.''
Garner is confident the Roosters will return to the Garden City in 2012 and said the NRL had also canvassed other clubs to gauge their interest in playing there.
''Our intention is for the Roosters to come back to AMI Stadium the following year but obviously that would be subject to an agreement being reached between the Roosters, the NRL and us,'' he said.
''We haven't looked at that yet. The NRL has asked other clubs if they are interested in bringing home games to Christchurch … but at this stage, the draw is done and I doubt another club could bring a game here for next year. It's unfortunate for league fans in Christchurch because they clearly have an appetite for the NRL.''
Meanwhile, rugby league is also set for a return to Eden Park early next year. Sunday News understands the Warriors will lock horns with Stephen Kearney's Eels at the iconic ground in round one.
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