http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugb...n/15373362.stm 1:10 in. "We'll play at St. Mary's in Southampton." The debate has finally ended, they are going to play at SMS. I would've liked to see them agree with the Don! In fact, maybe they'll help cover an expansion and I'm sure we will benefit from the hosting financially!
I'd rather they didn't use St Mary's. The rugby World Cup always takes place in the autumn, meaning we'd have to suffer 4 weeks of egg-chasers churning up the pitch in the middle of the season
I'm sure the groundsmen will get it all sorted by then, we might have one of those half plastic/half grass woven pitches like Leicester shelled out on over the summer which continues unaffected throughout the winter and any conditions. By then we might not be needing to worry. As far as I know SMS would need expanding... expansion and a little train shuttle too much to ask? ;-)
I'd go to one or two matches. I used to play a bit of Rugby for my school, in between the football matches, and watched a bit of Union, back in the 1970's too. Should be fun.
No, you're right. It actually stopped working right in the middle of me watching it, and despite loads of restarts, and even restarting my browser [not even crappy IE either] it still would not work. It was undoubtedly mentioned that St Marys will hold games of Rugby Union though. It was kind of nice to be mentioned in despatches.
If memory serves me right NA was not happy with the pitch at Leicester, not slick enough...we like to get the ball down and play our quick passing game. Certainly don't want some hybrid astroturf pitch!! The pitch at St Mary's is near on perfect and watered so the ball moves quicker, seems to have suited us relatively well this year!!!!! ....don't think Saints would go for that who have always had superb groundstaff and pitches, even the playing surface at The Dell in the latter years was quality.
They will decide next year what stadiums meet the final list, so it's not guaranteed that SMS will be on it. Remember, the 2015 world cup will take place at this time of the year, over a 6 week period. So Rugby games will have to somehow fit in with football games in the same week. The international break may afford some gaps in the football schedule to be filled, but logisitically, not great. Cortese had nothing to do with the Rugby bid for SMS, wouldn't be surprised if he pulled out if it was clear it wouldn't make the club big money (which it won't apparently, New Zealand are making a big loss on this years competition)
The matches will be spread around the country..how many games are we actually talking about. We won't get the big ones, so probably ruin our lovely grass for a one or two minnows games. Can we risk our Champion's League games? However, won't be a complete misery, if it happens could be interesting and give the city a buzz.
If we look at the venues for the tournament, SMS is the only suitable stadium anywhere near this area of the country. I mean, where else are they going to host it? Fratton Park? Amusingly, there's a plan to expand Elland Road to 50,000.
While this is fairly good news for the city; without puting a downer on it, expect nothing more than a Namibia v Romania pool match or something along those lines
As I said in a previous thread, I can see Staplewood getting used and I would imagine there would be some kind of rent payable if that is the case
SMS hosting world cup pool matches would be excellent! One thing the ground staff would have to do is grow the grass a bit longer, playing rugger on very short grass is rubbish. Plus note: being able to 'legally' drink beer inside the bowl...I'd feel like a rebel.
One thing that's probably worth noting is that Rugby Chief Exec Paul Vaughan says they will be playing at St Marys, amongst a few others named, and may be playing at one or two other stadiums. I think we can safely say St Marys is going to make a final list. I can only see positives, at this stage.
