Impact of Latest Quake on Rugby World Cup Remains Unknown

(ATR) It’s unclear if Christchurch’s second earthquake in less than six months will impact the city’s role in this year’s Rugby World Cup.

"The thoughts and deepest sympathies of the global Rugby family are with the people of Christchurch, their families and all New Zealanders at this very difficult time," the International Rugby Board said Tuesday in a statement.

"We feel it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage on the status of Rugby World Cup 2011 infrastructure or operations. The focus at this point must be on the emergency response."

News reports indicate at least 65 people are confirmed dead from the 6.3-magnitude aftershock to a 7.0-magnitude quake in September that killed no one and inflicted only minor damage to Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, site of last month’s Paralympic athletics world championships.

Though the Rugby World Cup is spread among 12 cities on both the North and South islands, Christchurch joins Auckland and Wellington as its three main hosts.

Stadium Christchurch is not thought to be affected by Tuesday’s tremor. The newly renovated venue boasts a capacity of nearly 40,000 and is due to host five pool matches as well as two quarterfinals during the competition slated for Sept. 9 through Oct. 23.

"I don't know what has happened to [Christchurch] Stadium," a spokesman for the Crusaders rugby team was quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald.

"I haven't heard. It is not a priority at the moment."

The Crusaders are scheduled to host the New South Wales Waratahs next weekend in Stadium Christchurch for the home opener to their Super Rugby season.

At this point, the robust infrastructure required to stage a World Cup appears harder hit than the stadium itself.

"We are aware there has been significant damage, that there were a number of significant hotels that have collapsed with, we understand, a number of people in them," civil defense minister John Carter was quoted Tuesday by the New Zealand Press Association.

Sufficient hotel capacity is one of the chief challenges to hosting any major sporting event, especially one the size of the Rugby World Cup and especially for a country as small as New Zealand.

The Australian reported that the famous Christchurch Cathedral –its tower collapsed Tuesday – is less than 50m from the hotel in which Australia’s rugby team is booked during September’s pool play.

Argentina, England, Italy, Scotland, Russia and Georgia are the other countries with matches scheduled for Christchurch. The city’s Cup opener is the Sept. 10 clash between pool powerhouses England and Argentina.

Written by Matthew Grayson.