Grounded Highlanders make light of air delay

The Highlanders have lightheartedly asked the Crusaders to shift tonight’s quarter- final to Dunedin’s indoor stadium after the team’s flight to Christchurch was cancelled yesterday afternoon.

Heavy rain and wind pounded the South Island yesterday, forcing the Highlanders to investigate alternative means of getting to Christchurch for Super Rugby’s southern showdown.

Sanzaar rules stipulate teams must travel to the match venue the day before the game but the Highlanders were left scrambling after their flight to Christchurch was cancelled yesterday due to high winds at Dunedin Airport.

The team i s now scheduled to board flights this morning.

Any idea of taking the bus to Christchurch yesterday afternoon was also quickly scratched as State Highway One was closed because of flooding near Timaru.

The Highlanders, of course, play their home matches under cover at Forsyth Barr Stadium. The team cheekily suggested on social media that the Crusaders should instead come to them for the quarter- final.

The disruptive travel plans continued a busy day in Dunedin after All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo knocked back the Chiefs to re- sign with the Highlanders and New Zealand Rugby for one more season.

All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa also confirmed his departure to French club Toulon at the end of this year. Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said it was disappointing to lose Fekitoa but said the All Black had indicated he was interested in returning to the Highlanders at the end of 2019.

During the Lions series, Naholo revealed he was weighing up an approach from incoming Chiefs coach Colin Cooper, who will take over from Dave Rennie in 2018. Cooper i s also courting Crusaders utility back Seta Tamanivalu.

A move to Hamilton would have allowed Naholo to be closer to his partner in Cambridge, and his two younger brothers who live in New Plymouth and Hastings.

But Naholo decided to stick with the Highlanders, the team where he charted his path to the All Blacks after being discarded by the Blues.

“I’m excited to announce I’ve signed another year to stay with the ’ Landers,” Naholo announced on social media.