Rugby's bully boy approach to its right to stage Super 12 matches on multi-purpose use grounds at cricket's expense may have back-fired.

The treatment dished out to the Otago and Canterbury Cricket Associations and their allocated three-day matches against England in March has reached the halls of power among the financial institutions involved in backing ground re-developments.

Since the treatment of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Otago and Canterbury Associations was raised by CricInfo New Zealand last week, concerns have been expressed among institutions who have lent money for ground refurbishment.

While some immediate reaction has occurred in Dunedin, there has been a call for more communication between affected parties in Christchurch.

And there has been more than a hint that when rugby interests next line up for funding support with the same institutions they could find themselves facing a "please explain" attitude for the continued over-bearing attitude towards other sports' rights to host games.

The chairman of the Community Trust of Otago, Clive Matthewson confirmed the Trust had provided $1.8million over five years to the redevelopment of Carisbrook.

"When we provided the money we did say that it was for Carisbrook, not the Rugby Union. We expected Carisbrook to be used for multi-purpose reasons for other sports and public uses."

"My personal reaction to this is that I think it's something worth talking about at the board meeting we are having on Monday, and I will be putting it on the agenda for discussion," he said.

The director of Business Projects for the Christchurch City Council, Ian Hay, said the Council's investment of $4million into Jade Stadium was on the basis that it would be for multi-purpose development.

The Council is also underwriting the re-development of the ground to the tune of $40million.

"I think it's unfortunate this has happened.

"The ground was redeveloped for both sports, not just rugby. Christchurch is not big enough to have two different venues for rugby and cricket.

"March is a month that is difficult. The Test with England is fitted in but the sports will have to keep talking and keep working.

"Jade Stadium is being redeveloped for both codes and we want them both to use it," he said.

The chief executive of Jade Stadium, Bryn McGoldrick said that when the access issue between the sports had been at its height, a few years ago, and it looked as if cricket might leave the ground, a feasibility study was done on what might happen if the ground was a rugby-only facility.

"Existing sponsors and potential sponsors we had been talking to said they didn't want Jade Stadium to be just a rugby facility," he said.

The latest battle over access had occurred because SANZAR, the body which runs the Super 12 and Tri Nations tournaments on behalf of the South African, New Zealand and Australian rugby unions had changed the draw very late.

The first three draft draws had seen Jade Stadium free of all rugby commitments and then on October 4 that had all changed with a totally different draw was introduced.

By that time the itinerary for the England tour had been announced.

While an alternative venue within Christchurch is now likely to be used, the financial benefits of having thousands of expected English supporters in town for the games are likely to be lost in Dunedin.

The most likely alternative venue is Queenstown which will be a sought after location for visiting fans with its adventure playground reputation.

All Dunedin will see of those visitors is their appearance for the last of the One-Day Internationals of the summer on Tuesday, February 26, when they might have expected them for nearly a week with the Otago-England game scheduled for Saturday, March 2 to Monday March 4.

McGoldrick said his view was that rugby was guilty of not communicating as well as they should and that there was a bullying type of mentality.

There were people on the Canterbury Rugby Union who were embarrassed by what had happened, because many of them had cricket as their second sporting interest, he said.

He believed the rugby attitude could be softened for the benefit of everyone through more communication.

The accepted protocols hadn't worked on this year's particular occasion.

© CricInfo