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London - England’s leading clubs are considering taking the Aviva Premiership final away from Twickenham next season after expressing “anger” at the decision by the Rugby Football Union to host the Vodacom Super Rugby game between the Crusaders and the Sharks last Sunday.
According to the Daily Telegraph website, Premiership Rugby, the clubs’ representative body, has already begun exploring alternative venues, including Wembley and Old Trafford, for next year’s domestic showpiece, which is scheduled to be held on May 26, 2012.
The controversial proposal was first aired at a heated board meeting of Premiership Rugby on March 15, 10 days before the Crusaders game against the Sharks was played at Twickenham. The New Zealand franchise had asked for the game to be played in London because they have had to move their home fixtures away from Christchurch after last month’s earthquake.
One source said the plan to move the final away from Twickenham next season was raised to act as a “flashing red light” to the RFU from the clubs, who were angry that the Super Rugby game, which attracted a crowd of 35 094, was staged on the first full weekend of Premiership action since the end of the Six Nations.
A vote was passed at the meeting not to support last Sunday’s fixture but given the charitable aspect to the match the clubs decided not to campaign openly against it.
It is understood that the RFU had a meeting with Premier Rugby representatives on Wednesday in which the RFU hit back at criticism of the decision to host the Crusaders v Sharks match.
“English rugby moved heaven and earth to enable this game to go ahead because we thought it was a worthwhile cause,” an RFU spokesperson said.
“Hosting this game at Twickenham was about English rugby showing its support for the rugby family in New Zealand and the people of Christchurch who had been affected by the earthquake.
“The match and related fund-raising will have raised over £1 million for the Red Cross Christchurch Earthquake fund and the RFU intends to donate all profit we made for hosting the game to charities in both New Zealand and Japan.”
According to the Daily Telegraph website, Premiership Rugby, the clubs’ representative body, has already begun exploring alternative venues, including Wembley and Old Trafford, for next year’s domestic showpiece, which is scheduled to be held on May 26, 2012.
The controversial proposal was first aired at a heated board meeting of Premiership Rugby on March 15, 10 days before the Crusaders game against the Sharks was played at Twickenham. The New Zealand franchise had asked for the game to be played in London because they have had to move their home fixtures away from Christchurch after last month’s earthquake.
One source said the plan to move the final away from Twickenham next season was raised to act as a “flashing red light” to the RFU from the clubs, who were angry that the Super Rugby game, which attracted a crowd of 35 094, was staged on the first full weekend of Premiership action since the end of the Six Nations.
A vote was passed at the meeting not to support last Sunday’s fixture but given the charitable aspect to the match the clubs decided not to campaign openly against it.
It is understood that the RFU had a meeting with Premier Rugby representatives on Wednesday in which the RFU hit back at criticism of the decision to host the Crusaders v Sharks match.
“English rugby moved heaven and earth to enable this game to go ahead because we thought it was a worthwhile cause,” an RFU spokesperson said.
“Hosting this game at Twickenham was about English rugby showing its support for the rugby family in New Zealand and the people of Christchurch who had been affected by the earthquake.
“The match and related fund-raising will have raised over £1 million for the Red Cross Christchurch Earthquake fund and the RFU intends to donate all profit we made for hosting the game to charities in both New Zealand and Japan.”
