McKenzie slams SCG Trust

NSW Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie has spoken out against the SCG Trust's hardline attempt to lock all NSW games into Aussie Stadium for the next decade.

In yesterday's publication of Rugby News, McKenzie said the NSWRU board may have to make a tough decision if the Trust denies the opportunity to take major Super 14 games to the larger capacity Telstra Stadium. "We love playing at Aussie Stadium," McKenzie wrote in his weekly column. "It is the right stadium for the right crowd at the right time.

"There may be a tough decision for the board to make if it is forced to make an all or nothing call over the long term.

"Ten years ago when the Waratahs signed on to play their Super 12 matches at what was then known as the Sydney Football Stadium, there were still three to four years of Test matches, Bledisloe Cups and the like to be played at the venue.

"But times changed then and they will change again.


"Locking ourselves into playing all of our games at Aussie Stadium for the next 10 years would deny us the opportunity to grow as the competition grows.

"This could in turn relegate us to niche status in the Sydney sporting market, which would be a disservice to the Waratahs, NSW Rugby and the most important component, the fans."

Negotiations over home ground rights from next year and beyond are continuing.