Rugby:The seven World Cup matches due to be played in earthquake-hit Christchurch will be moved to other venues in New Zealand, tournament organisers have announced.
New Zealand's World Cup minister Murray McCully had previously stated the pitch and stadium were both damaged by the earthquake, which hit on February 22nd and measured 6.3 on the Richter Scale.
The decision to switch the games - which include England's September pool meetings with Argentina and Georgia and Scotland's clash with Argentina - was reached today after the International Rugby Board (IRB) and the New Zealand government received the final engineering report from AMI Stadium managers VBase.
An RWC statement read: "Rugby World Cup 2011 tournament partners have today reluctantly decided that Christchurch will be unable to host the seven matches scheduled to be played at Stadium Christchurch and these will be rescheduled to be played at other venues in New Zealand.
"The decision was unanimously supported by tournament owners the International Rugby Board, the New Zealand Government, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and tournament organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011).
"This follows a detailed review of reports assessing damage to key tournament facilities and infrastructure caused by the devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the city on February 22 and advice from the stadium operator, VBase, that it could not be certain that all necessary remedial work could be completed in time for RWC 2011."
The quarter-finals scheduled to be played at Stadium Christchurch have been reallocated to Eden Park, with no decision yet made as to which RWC venues will host the pool matches.
VBase indicated that the repair timeframes were so tight there would be no leeway for work delays or for any risks that would impact timelines, meaning they could give no assurances that the venue would be ready in time.
IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset, who travelled to Christchurch for the announcement, said: "Yesterday we were informed by Stadium Christchurch operator VBase that it could not guarantee that the extensive repairs required could be completed in time.
"That information, coupled with a thorough review of every aspect of hosting RWC 2011 in the city, means that tournament partners have been left with no choice but to make the difficult decision to reallocate the seven matches due to be played in Christchurch."
The Rugby Football Union were already believed to be working on the basis that it was unlikely Christchurch would be in a position to act as a host city, and had been waiting to hear from tournament organisers where their affected matches would be moved to before exploring new training facilities and accommodation options.
England already have pool matches in Dunedin and Auckland, which seems the most likely venue, while Wellington's 'Cake Tin' stadium could also be considered as an alternative.
World Cup organisers have insisted from the outset that all matches will be played in New Zealand.
Ticket-holders for all Christchurch matches will be offered the option of a refund or the opportunity to secure tickets to the reallocated matches.
RNZ 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden admitted Eden Park was "the only logical alternative" to stage the two quarter-finals, but revealed a decision on the group games scheduled for Christchurch will be made soon.
"We are going to make that decision and announce that hopefully by the end of next week, which will provide some clarity for people travelling," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
"There are five pool matches that have to be rescheduled and within our own organisation we have basically worked out what we think is right.
"We are trying to keep as many of those as we reasonably can on the south island and so we are anticipating at least three of those matches will be offered to the other three venues on the south island, which are Dunedin, Nelson and Invercargill.
"The other two I have a feeling will end up in the north island."
