Highlanders grounded ahead of Super clash

The Highlanders are stuck at Dunedin Airport and a road trip to Christchurch looks unlikely due to flooding.

The Highlanders Super Rugby team is having difficulty getting to Christchurch for their quarter-final match against the Crusaders on Saturday.

The team's flight from Dunedin Airport on Friday night was cancelled and part of State Highway 1 between Dunedin and Christchurch is closed due to surface flooding.

A state of emergency has been declared in Timaru, to the south of Christchurch.

Team manager Greg O'Brien said the Highlanders were talking to Air New Zealand.

The problem in Dunedin was wind, rather than flooding, he said.

"We are hoping if the wind subsides we will get out," he said.

"We don't know yet," he said.

Media report remaining flights out of Dunedin on Friday night are fully booked.

"Chances on changing the game to Dunedin? we got plenty of Speights and it's warm under the roof," Highlanders first five-eighth, Lima Sopoaga, tweeted.

Extreme weather is causing some disruption to flights, Dunedin Airport tweeted.


Share

1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world