Things to do  |  24 Sep 2020

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Some of the country’s best rugby and cricket players will go head-to-head in a T20 match at Hagley Oval early in the new year.

The 22 January 2021 day-night Hot Spring Spas T20 Black Clash in association with Heartland will be the first premier sports event to be played under the Oval’s new floodlights.

Former Black Cap Stephen Fleming will coach and captain Team Cricket, while former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry will coach Team Rugby.

Get tickets

Tickets for 22 January 2021 Black Clash are on sale now at blackclash.co.nz

Kids tickets are $15 and adults $49, plus fees.

Gates will open at 5pm, with the first innings getting under way at 6.30pm.

Team Rugby won the inaugural Black Clash played in 2019 so Team Cricket are looking for redemption.

“It was pretty obvious that the 2019 result was just one of those freak occurrences that happen in sport,’’ says Fleming.

“There’s no rational explanation for how it happened – and there’s certaintly no way anyone can foresee it happening again. We’ve got a lot of respect for Sir Graham’s team – as rugby players. But as cricketers – not so much.’’

Grant Elliott, Dan Vettori and Peter Fulton are among those lining up for Team Cricket, while Jordie Barrett and Israel Dagg are among those will take to the field for Team Rugby.

David Higgins, founder and director of Duco Events, is expecting the event will attract a capacity crowd.

“We’ve already seen with the crowds that flocked to Super Rugby that Kiwis are desperate to get to attending sports events so I’m positive we’ll have another sell-out under lights in Christchurch.’’

ChristchurchNZ General Manager Destination and Attraction Loren Heaphy says with international travel restrictions still likely to be in place, the Black Clash match is a perfect chance for Kiwis from around the country to head south and check out everything Canterbury has to offer.

“Events play a key role in our city’s economic recovery and we are excited to welcome Black Clash back to Hagley Oval. The third instalment of this event will be a popular feature in our summer events calendar and provide a significant boost to our tourism and hospitality sectors at this much needed time.

“We feel lucky that New Zealand is staill able to realistically plan large-scale public events like this, and I encourage Kiwis to make the most of our position and get out to celebrate, and perhaps even add on a long weekend to explore our city and region,’’ Ms Heaphy says.