Rugby: Crusaders to play in London, Timaru

Sonny Bill Williams and the Crusaders will head to London on Sunday to play the Sharks the following weekend. Photo / Getty Images

The Crusaders' earthquake-disrupted Super 15 rugby campaign has been given a boost by confirmation they will play their sixth-round match against the Sharks at Twickenham in London.

The Christchurch franchise last week asked the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) if they could host the March 26 fixture as their own ground was unusable due to damage sustained in last month's 6.3-magnitude earthquake.

The RFU turned down the request for logistical reasons, with Twickenham neighbours Harlequins' set for a home game on the same day.

However, RFU spokesman Peter Thomas confirmed the game would now be held on March 27.

"It's all dropped into place, we're able to look at getting it going for the 27th," he told Radio Live yesterday.

Thomas said the British Red Cross was getting in behind the game and stg5 from every ticket would go towards the Christchurch appeal.

"We know we've got 900,000 South Africans in the London metropolitan area, 600,000 Australians and a quarter of a million Kiwis, so we're hoping they'll come out for it."

Earlier, Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said the Sharks had been "really supportive" of the proposal, and were keen to do something to help Christchurch and the Crusaders after the devastating earthquake of February 22.

Since the earthquake, the Crusaders have played two Super 15 rugby games after points were shared from their cancelled second-round match against the Hurricanes scheduled for Wellington on February 26.

They thumped the Waratahs 33-18 at their temporary home ground in Nelson on March 4, then destroyed the Brumbies 52-10 a week later at the same venue.

The franchise also confirmed overnight that following their bye in round seven, a week after the Sharks match, their round eight match on April 9 against the Bulls will be played at Timaru.

"We're also looking forward to playing the Bulls in Timaru, which is in our franchise area. We're sure the people of South Canterbury and further afield will support us in this match against the champions of the past two years."

The second-placed Crusaders travel to Dunedin for a fifth-round clash with New Zealand conference leaders the Highlanders on Saturday.

- NZPA