Rugby: Thoughts and prayers with Christchurch as the city admits defeat in battle to host World Cup games:

AMI Stadium, Christchurch New Zealand after earthquake

Christ - church has had to admit defeat in their efforts to host Rugby World Cup games in the aftermath of two earthquakes in the space of the last six months. The games will now be moved to other venues in New Zealand, tournament organisers have confirmed.

The decision to switch the games was made after the International Rugby Board 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."