The Crusaders plan to take their Super 15 match against the Hurricanes next year to Fiji.
Details are still being sorted but the Herald understands a group has agreed to underwrite the match which is likely to be played at the National Stadium in Suva.
In a prototype move in 2011, the Crusaders played the Sharks at Twickenham because AMI Stadium was damaged in the February 22 earthquake.
With AMI being used for the under-20 Fifa World Cup in late May and June next year, the Crusaders were forced to look for an alternate ground.
They considered Nelson and Timaru but when a sponsor offered to back the game if it was shifted to Fiji, the Crusaders began discussing the concept with tournament officials.
Chief executive Hamish Riach would not comment yesterday about the idea and the rationale of playing in front of about 20,000 spectators in Fiji.
"We can't comment on the specifics of our Hurricanes game but it is true that venue has not been confirmed. I just can't comment.
"I am best to continue to say no comment. I am the spokesman, you have rung the right person. All we can say is we are continuing to work through the venue for the game."
Wellington and Dunedin are unavailable because of the Fifa tournament and Sanzar has completed a draw where New Zealand teams hosted the majority of their games in the front of the competition to try to minimize the disruption.
One Fifa semifinal will be played in Christchurch on June 17 and the ground will then be released for the Super rugby playoffs starting two days later.
"With some luck and leeway around the time of captain's runs, if the Crusaders earned the right to host a Super rugby quarter-final we think we should be able to cope but it would be very tight," Riach said.
If the game in Fiji is approved, the Crusaders will play their last four pool games away in Sydney, Fiji, Auckland and Canberra -- a schedule which will have a bigger impact on the Crusaders if they qualify for offshore playoff matches.
Any concerns from the players' association or coaching group about the squad's welfare are likely to be over-ridden as the Crusaders management chase what they feel will be a financial benefit.
When AMI is unavailable, they believe they should be able to make a commercial decision as the All Blacks did with tests played in Japan last year and Chicago this season.
The Crusaders return to training today after a month break and will begin with a series of fitness tests before they go through a series of hill repeats tomorrow around Taylor's Mistake and Godley Head.
- By Wynne Gray of the New Zealand Herald
