Crusaders bid early farewell to Apollo Projects Stadium in Super Rugby final but will new stadium be ready for next year?

This weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific final is being billed as the perfect way to send off Apollo Projects Stadium at Addington Raceway.

And it will be, if Christchurch’s new covered stadium is ready in time for the 2026 tournament.

The problem is that One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha is not due to open until late April, and the Super Rugby season kicks off in mid-February.

The Crusaders have signed off early too, in particular, head coach Rob Penney.

“This is a one-off occasion. We’re at home in front of our people. [The] Last time we’re at Orange Theory [Apollo Projects Stadium] and it’s just gonna be such a magic occasion.

“I think, you know, this is a game fitting of the farewell for the stadium as well,” said Penney.

Penney wasn’t the only one. During Sky TV’s broadcast of the Crusaders’ home semifinal against the Blues last Friday night, presenter Laura McGoldrick also fed the narrative of one last match at the old Rugby League Park on numerous occasions.

Will Jordan, of the Crusaders, celebrates his try during the Super Rugby Pacific semifinal against the Blues. Photo / Photosport

Crusaders fullback Will Jordan echoed those sentiments after the game.

“Protecting our home pitch has been a huge thing for us throughout the whole year, the last year for the stadium, which has given us a lot of joy.

“It’s been a bit of a fortress for us. So, we get one more week to try and protect that again and the boys will be fizzed up about it,” said Jordan.

Both the current home and future home of the Crusaders are run by Venues Ōtautahi.

Chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare told the Herald it’ll be the last finals match – but there’s still a chance that the Crusaders’ horses will be back at the Addington stables in 2026.

“The Super Rugby Pacific draw is generally released in September and at that time we will be able to confirm how many matches may need to be played at Apollo Projects Stadium in 2026,” says Harvie-Teare.

There is a chance that the new covered stadium will be ready in time, with rumours abounding that construction is ahead of schedule – but officially, they’re not budging on the original date.

“With practical completion on track for April 20, 2026, we are hopeful the draw can be scheduled to make sure as many matches as possible can be played at One New Zealand Stadium,” says Harvie-Teare.

This year, round 10 was held on April 18-19, more than halfway through the Super Rugby season.

For live commentary of Super Rugby Pacific matches featuring New Zealand teams, go to GOLD SPORT or iHeartRadio.

Mike Thorpe is a senior multimedia journalist for the Herald, based in Christchurch. He has been a broadcast journalist across television and radio for 20 years and joined the Herald in August 2024.