Keep quiet on Christchurch's RWC games - Snedden

Rugby World Cup New Zealand boss Martin Snedden asked the Government to keep contingency plans for moving cup games away from earthquake-torn Christchurch quiet, two days before Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully said there was no plan B.

The city's AMI Stadium was to host five pool matches and two quarterfinals but the stand was damaged and the turf suffered liquefaction in the February 22 quake. Speculation on whether the games would be moved started immediately.

Papers released under the Official Information Act included one from Rugby NZ 2011 chief executive Mr Snedden to a member of Mr McCully's staff dated March 5 which says: "Work on alternative contingency options continues and we are keeping this as low-key as we can."

The options were to keep all games in the city, keep some, or keep none and decide where else they could be held.

"We are grateful that RWC stakeholders have remained very disciplined, staying clear of any public speculation about possible match scheduling changes. Please keep this up," Mr Snedden wrote.

Two days later, Mr McCully told reporters there was no plan B and contingency plans were not being undertaken.

"We're operating on the basis that if it can happen we will make it happen, we're waiting first of all to see whether the stadium is able to be made ready for the hosting of the games and then we will look at the other issues associated with Christchurch's capacity to accommodate people and provide the appropriate infrastructure," he said.

Other memos and emails leading up to the announcement on March 16 that the games would be shifted painted a bleak picture.

A March 11 memo detailed the status of different types of accommodation stock.

"In summary there is a critical shortage of accommodation for the quarter finals, particularly at the premium end. The visitor requirements and expectations appear more manageable as current analysis indicates that they are free and independent travellers.

"The tournament requirements, particularly for the double header, may present some more significant challenges."

And on March 15, Bryan Pearson, chief executive of stadium manager Vbase, wrote to Mr Snedden saying the stadium could be fixed in time but there was no room for anything else to go wrong.

He listed risks from aftershocks, ongoing discovery of damage, insurance expiring and a shortfall between the repair cost and the cover, the complexity of the repair job, availability of labour and material, and funding for the insured turf.

"Martin, we reiterate our full commitment to RWC2011 and are disappointed we cannot provide the required level of assurance."

On March 16, after meeting with International Rugby Board officials in Christchurch, it was announced the city would not hold any games. Christchurch's two quarterfinal matches would go to Auckland, while five pool games would go to other centres.

The new venues for the those pool games -- Dunedin, Invercargill, Dunedin, Wellington and Albany -- were announced today.

Labour leader Phil Goff earlier this month accused Prime Minister John Key of giving false hope about the possibility of the games being held there.