Singapore's Super Rugby shame
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Singapore's new National Stadium suffered fresh embarrassment when the Maori All Blacks scrapped their match against the Asia Pacific Dragons over the poor state of its pitch, highlighting questions on the countries readiness to host a Super Rugby team.
The cancellation comes as southern hemisphere officials deliberate whether to award a Super Rugby franchise to Singapore or Japan, hosts of the 2019 World Cup.
New Zealand Rugby Union officials said they felt 'let down' over the situation, which could affect Singapore's bid to host a team in the Super Rugby competition.
The below-par pitch has already attracted negative comments from visiting football teams including Brazil, whose coach Dunga complained 'most of it is sand' and that it could injure his players.
Singapore's sports governing body has already threatened to withhold funding over the state of the pitch, much of which was covered with sand during Brazil's 4-0 friendly win last week over Japan.
Rugby markings and the positions of the rugby posts were clearly visible, while the bouncing ball kicked up small clouds of sand during the game.
"We feel let down that this happened at this late stage," NZRU general manager for planning and operations Nigel Cass said in a statement sent to AFP.
"However, the safety or our players is paramount and we were unable to get the assurance we needed that the pitch was playable."
There was no immediate comment from officials at Singapore's sports hub multi-venue complex whose centrepiece is the roofed, 55,000-seat National Stadium.
The ASEAN Football Federation is also contemplating moving matches away from the National Stadium for Singapore's co-hosting of the Suzuki Cup, starting next month.
A November 8 concert by Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou at the stadium has been shifted to December 27 to give the grass a chance to grow before the Suzuki Cup, where Singapore are defending champions.
The pitch combines synthetic and natural grass to improve durability.
The Asia Pacific Dragons is an invitational side drawn from Asian and Polynesian players.
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