The redevelopment of the playing arena at major Hawke's Bay sports stadium McLean Park won't be done before early winter, about five months after the $2 million project was originally scheduled to start.
Napier City Council chief executive Wayne Jack confirmed yesterday the work, which was initially scheduled to start immediately after the end of the Mitre 10 interprovincial rugby competition last month, will now not start until after the Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and South African side the Sharks on April 6.
He said there was a 12-week window for the job in which possibly the least complicated part is the placement of the hybrid ready-turf after excavation, and arrival of about 7900 tonnes of sand - at least 280 truck-and-trailer loads.
It could impact on early games in Hawke's Bay's 2018 rugby campaign, but it could be met by avoiding having home games for the Magpies in the opening rounds.
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union spokesman Jay Campbell said the New Zealand Rugby Union drawmakers had asked for the Magpies' first two matches to be away games.