Crusaders players put fans before Fiji windfall [The Press]
If the Crusaders players get their way the proposed Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes in Fiji will be scrubbed.
While administrators from both franchises are keen to make history, and a bundle of money, by playing at Suva's National Stadium on May 29 the players, who remain reluctant to travel so close to the playoffs, have made it clear they want to play in front of their own fans at Nelson's Trafalgar Park instead.
With AMI Stadium unavailable because of the Fifa Under-20 World Cup, the Crusaders board are understood to have arranged for a sponsor to underwrite the trip and promised the Hurricanes franchise a fee.
It now appears a compelling case must be presented to the players from both teams - especially the All Blacks who will be on duty at the World Cup in Britain later in the year - if they are to be convinced the game should go ahead.
New Zealand Rugby Players' Association boss Rob Nichol, who discussed the issue with players from both teams late last year, said he hoped a decision would be made in early February. New Zealand Rugby and Sanzar will also be consulted.
"I think most people would have thought playing in the Tasman region would have been the better option, particularly given how well they have done at ITM Cup level and how well the province is doing," Nichol said.
"While commercially it might be an attractive prospect [to play in Fiji] there are a number of factors everyone needs to think about. Performance is a key part of that. And the Crusaders, in particular, have a challenging last four weeks."
Desperate to win the title for the first time since 2008, the Crusaders players believe the task will be complicated if they are forced to travel more than required at the sharp end of their season.
They have a challenging draw to contend with in the closing month of the round-robin, meeting the Waratahs (Sydney), Hurricanes (Fiji/Nelson), Blues (Auckland) and Brumbies (Canberra) ahead of the playoffs. Fears their own administrators could set them up to fail remain real.
Nichol also noted that if the Crusaders play a quarterfinal, semi and final away from Christchurch it would mean having to win seven consecutive games out of their region.
"That is unheard of," Nichol said. "So there are a lot of performance factors that everyone needs to think about. Clearly, being on the road for that extra period of time is an issue."
It is understood some Crusaders players are also frustrated that their board members seem to have such short memories.
Following the earthquake-disrupted season of 2011, when Lancaster Park was damaged, the players noted in their post-season debriefs how the constant travel had taken its toll and fatigue resulted in them fading in the grand final loss to the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
Nichol noted the Crusaders players agreed to play the Sharks in London in 2011 because they wanted to help the franchise survive financially, but said some valuable lessons needed to be taken from that.
"History shows that the team ended up with some injuries out of that game and ultimately it wasn't really the commercial success they [the Crusaders administrators] expected.
"This game [in Fiji] is not a fait accompli by any stretch."
- The Press
