Former Newport RFC captain Simon Raiwalui said that having no rugby at Rodney Parade would be a "travesty." Pro12 side Newport Gwent Dragons Chair Martyn Hazell said that professional rugby at the ground "could end" if the Welsh Rugby Union takeover is not completed. To take control of the Dragons and Rodney Parade, the WRU needs 75% of the vote at a Newport RFC shareholder meeting. Raiwalui: "It is one of the founder clubs of Welsh rugby. The thought of not having rugby at Rodney Parade would be a travesty for me" (BBC, 3/30).
The "long-awaited" 950.2M Rwandan francs ($1.15M) "state-of-the-art" int'l cricket stadium being constructed in Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District, will be inaugurated in October, according to officials. The construction of Rwanda’s "first ever cricket stadium" started in April '15. RCSF General Manager Eric Dusingizimana said, "Our plan has been to open the ground by October this year and so we shall do it" (THE NEW TIMES, 3/30).
A "large section" of Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium field was removed and replaced with new turf midweek following Adele's "third and final sold-out and rain-soaked concert on Sunday." The same turf transplant was "successfully" completed at both the Brisbane Cricket Ground and Sydney's ANZ Stadium. More than 130,000 attended the three shows last week (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 3/30).
