Crusaders to play Western Force in warm-up match

The Crusaders will play a Super 14 warm-up match against the John Mitchell-coached Western Force in Melbourne early next year.

The venue for the January 28 clash, which is aimed to help placate Victorian rugby fans who missed out when the Australian Rugby Union awarded the expansion franchise to Perth, is yet to be determined.

The match pits 2003 World Cup All Blacks coach Mitchell against his then assistant, Robbie Deans.