Classic, it has been revealed.

The Classic faces a move away from its current home at Nationals in Devonshire following the purchase of the premises by Montessori Academy.

A significant percentage of the cash needed to put the Classic on each year comes from the sale of alcohol, and as of this week the new owners have banned the purchase of all liquor on the premises.

In a recent interview with The Royal Gazette , Classic president John Kane said he was exploring a number of avenues, but stressed matters were at a very early stage and did not want to reveal any possible sites.

However, Charlie Marshall, deputy chairman of the National Sports Centre's board of trustees, said a meeting had been held between the two parties last Thursday after an approach from Kane.

"We had a meeting with John Kane about the possibility of having the Classic played there,'' he said. "We are holding discussions on the possibility of that happening at National Sports Centre. Those facilities will be available for the Rugby Classic.'' Marshall, however, stressed this was only the beginning of talks and it was by no means definite the event would be staged there.

"These are ongoing discussions at this stage in the game and are very preliminary,'' he said.

Marshall said Kane was given a tour of the area known as the northern fields.

"We showed him the facilities and I think he was impressed. Obviously right now there's still construction going on but we told him about the cricket pavilion and where he could set up his tents and where the rugby field could be,'' he said.

A sticking point at the moment was a lack of floodlighting, Marshall said.

"That is the main problem and that is a challenge for us to face over the next few months. There has been no money allocated for that,'' he said.

He said the trustees' priorities had changed in recent months.

"The grandstand was going to be the last thing we did, but we have had to do a little bit of reversing,'' he said. "So now the lights are becoming a priority. We have made provision for them, the bases are in and the piping is in so now all we have to do is put up the poles and put in the facilities for the transformers.'' Marshall said further discussions would be held shortly.

"There will be a meeting with ourselves and Fraser Butterworth, who is an architect and helped assist the Rugby Classic in the layout, next Wednesday,'' he said.

Hockey eyes new home -- Page 21