Rugby: Blues likely to play game at Albany

Blues chief executive Andy Dalton. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Blues look poised to be heading across the Auckland Harbour Bridge during next year's Super 14.

The franchise have six home games in the schedule, with the opening match against the Hurricanes in round one, on February 12, suggested as the match that could be heading to North Harbour's Albany stadium.

Blues chief executive Andy Dalton didn't want to comment last night, but it is understood negotiations are in train between North Harbour and the Blues. One source said it was "likely" Harbour would host one game.

Several people contacted yesterday were tiptoeing around what is a sensitive topic.

While Northland's Okara Park is undergoing redevelopment and won't be ready to host games until 2011, Harbour were always keen to host at least one match, if not more, next year.

Eden Park's capacity could be below 20,000 early next year while World Cup construction work continues, and North Harbour has a capacity well in excess of that.

Harbour's chairman John Morgan, who is on the Blues board, said Harbour were keen to host several Super 14 games in a season.

Harbour had hoped to host the Springbok Tri-Nations test next year as its 25th anniversary showpiece, but that match will stay at Eden Park, after Auckland pointed out it had a deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union to stage one test a year during redevelopment.

Earlier this month the Blues offered a Super 14 game to North Harbour, for a match fee understood to be about $25,000, which Harbour had baulked at.

Morgan said it was "absolutely inappropriate" that a Blues stakeholder should pay to host a game.