ANZAC League Test shifted to Gold Coast

Earthquake damage in Christchurch has forced the Anzac rugby league Test to be relocated to Queensland.

The match was scheduled to be played in Christchurch on May 5 but the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) decided on Friday to relocate to Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.

The NZRL said both it and the Australian Rugby League were committed to returning the Anzac test to Christchurch in 2012.

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"The priority for them now is to somehow get their lives back together and the valuable resources they have on call need to be focused on trying to rebuild their city," NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle said.

"By next year, hopefully, they will be looking for the tourism and the international exposure that this match can deliver, and we will be there to do everything we can to deliver that outcome..

"We are conscious that there are a lot of people hurting at the moment in Christchurch, as well as many in Queensland who are still coming to terms with the devastation of recent floods, and the Test will certainly include a number of fundraising efforts."

To accommodate the venue change, the New Zealand Warriors' round nine National Rugby League (NRL) match against the Gold Coast Titans, which was scheduled to be played in Auckland, has been moved to Skilled Park.

The corresponding match between the teams in round 18 will move from Skilled Park to Auckland.

"The move has been agreed to by both clubs and reduces the impact of the venue change on the Warriors, players," said NRL chief executive David Gallop said.

"There is tremendous sympathy for the people of Christchurch and we accept that the city is simply not in a position to host the match."

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/anzac-league-test-shifted-to-gold-coast-20110304-1bhry.html

Very unfortunate that the ANZAC match has been brought back to Australia. It would of been an Huge event if held in New Zealand. There was some talks originally that the game might be moved to Auckland (Mt Smart Stadium) or Wellington (Wetspac Stadium) but that seems to not have occurred. (See article in this topic page: https://wa-redszone.forumotion.com/t13-christchurch-unlikely-to-be-able-to-host-test)

But the decision to move the game to the Gold Coast is a genius move. Skilled Park will be packed as it host it's first ever international game of any kind and it's first Rugby League test match.