Rugby: City to miss marquee game

Paul McLaughlan.
Paul McLaughlan.
The Highlanders are set to play one of their marquee games outside Dunedin next year as the side suffers from a congestion of sport in the city.

A draft draw had been circulated among the franchises and would be finalised in the next few days before being publicly released.

Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said the side would come back from South Africa and Perth with a game scheduled against the Chiefs.

But the match was due to be played in late May-early June, the same weekend Forsyth Barr Stadium hosted matches for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup.

The football took priority so the Highlanders would be looking elsewhere, and Queenstown or Invercargill were the likely alternatives.

Playing outside the Highlanders region was also a possibility but was unlikely, Clark said.

''I wouldn't rule it out but I would say it was more 20-80 than 80-20. You've got to get so many people to agree when you are taking a game to another region,'' he said.

The Highlanders played the Bulls in Palmerston North in 2009 for a Highlanders home game. It attracted a crowd of more than 10,000 as the Highlanders gained a big victory over the side which would go on to win the title that year.

Clark said a union such as Manawatu might agree to host a game but the franchise covering that province also had to agree, which was unlikely.

It was disappointing to lose such a marquee game from Forsyth Barr Stadium, especially as the Chiefs could well include the likes of Aaron Cruden and Sonny Bill Williams, but it could not be averted in what was a tough year for those putting the draw together.

He said the franchise was talking to officials in Invercargill and Queenstown about underwriting a game. A threshold crowd of about 7500 would have to be reached and it would never match the financial returns made at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

With no lights in Queenstown, a game in the resort would have to be played in the afternoon.

Sanzar had granted the franchise extra time to confirm a venue for the game.

The just-announced Rod Stewart concert at Forsyth Barr Stadium did not have any impact on the Highlanders home draw.

Clark also confirmed the franchise was still looking for a specialist forwards coach but no-one had been signed yet. If the right person could not be found then no-one would be employed.

Coaches were watching the ITM Cup games closely for players and signing announcements were expected soon.

Tasman prop Ross Geldenhuys was the latest player believed to be heading south but Clark declined to name any new players yesterday.

The franchise also announced its new manager yesterday. New Zealand Colts and former Otago manager Paul McLaughlan will take on the role for two years.

McLaughlan replaces Graham Purvis who had two years with the franchise.

Clark said McLaughlan was an experienced operator who had much of respect in New Zealand rugby circles and would do a good job.

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