Rugby World Cup venue undamaged

New Zealand's AMI stadium suffered no structural damage in the Christchurch earthquake and will host Rugby World Cup matches next year as planned, the venue operators said Tuesday.

Vbase, which runs the 38,600-capacity stadium, said the 7.0-magnitude quake caused minor damage but inspections by engineers had found no structural problems.

"At this stage we're looking at minor repairs and a massive clean-up. We're hoping to give staff access tomorrow and should be operating normally by next week," Vbase chief executive Bryan Pearson told AFP.

"We've had breakages, damage to fixtures and fittings, tables and chairs, that sort of thing, but preliminary reports have found no structural damage at all."

Pearson said Rugby World Cup matches at the stadium, scheduled to be held around this time next year, would not be affected.

"We're working to plan on the World Cup," he said.

The stadium's capacity will be boosted to 45,000 with temporary seating during next year's tournament, when it is scheduled to host seven matches, including two quarter-finals.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Thursday AFP