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Brenden Nel - SuperSport
Johannesburg - The Cheetahs will have the honour of opening the newly built stadium for top New Zealand franchise, the Crusaders.
The seven-time Super Rugby champions will move to their replacement stadium - Rugby League Park - after a season in the travelling wilderness following the devastating earthquake in Christchurch earlier this year that deprived them of their regular ground - the old Lancaster Park (these days Jade Stadium).
But with the news that a new ground will be built for the 2012 Super Rugby season, the Crusaders announced on Tuesday that they will officially open the stadium against the Cheetahs in their second home game on March 24.
Hamish Riach, CEO of the Crusaders, said that contractors were working incredibly hard and were making good progress on converting the grounds to a first class sports and outdoor entertainment centre.
“This has been an ambitious programme from the start and we are delighted that we are getting closer to having home games in Christchurch.”
Riach said that the Crusaders were thankful of the great support they had received from Central Government and the City Council in helping turn Rugby League Park into a first class rugby ground, complete with state-of-the-art structures, new floodlights and new turf.
No venue has been decided for the Crusaders opening home game on March 9 against the Chiefs, with a decision to be made early next year.
The Crusaders spent the entire 2011 Super Rugby season playing away from home, and did exceptionally well, making the final where they lost against the Reds.
Johannesburg - The Cheetahs will have the honour of opening the newly built stadium for top New Zealand franchise, the Crusaders.
The seven-time Super Rugby champions will move to their replacement stadium - Rugby League Park - after a season in the travelling wilderness following the devastating earthquake in Christchurch earlier this year that deprived them of their regular ground - the old Lancaster Park (these days Jade Stadium).
But with the news that a new ground will be built for the 2012 Super Rugby season, the Crusaders announced on Tuesday that they will officially open the stadium against the Cheetahs in their second home game on March 24.
Hamish Riach, CEO of the Crusaders, said that contractors were working incredibly hard and were making good progress on converting the grounds to a first class sports and outdoor entertainment centre.
“This has been an ambitious programme from the start and we are delighted that we are getting closer to having home games in Christchurch.”
Riach said that the Crusaders were thankful of the great support they had received from Central Government and the City Council in helping turn Rugby League Park into a first class rugby ground, complete with state-of-the-art structures, new floodlights and new turf.
No venue has been decided for the Crusaders opening home game on March 9 against the Chiefs, with a decision to be made early next year.
The Crusaders spent the entire 2011 Super Rugby season playing away from home, and did exceptionally well, making the final where they lost against the Reds.
