Romania secures final place in New Zealand

Romania has been confirmed as the 20th and final team to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) after defeating Uruguay in the second leg of the last qualifying round in the Romanian capital of Bucharest.

Romania won 39-12 in a winner take all final match at Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf.

This followed the exciting drawn first leg encounter in Montevideo on November 13 when the home team came from behind to snatch a draw.

Romania has now qualified for all seven Tournaments.

As Play-off Winner they will compete in Pool B against England, Argentina, Scotland and Georgia.

“We are thrilled for Romania,” said Martin Snedden, CEO for Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011.

“It’s been a long hard road for both teams, with their qualification journey having started in 2008, but sadly there can only be one winner.”

Confirmation of the Play-off Winner brings to an end the qualification rounds for RWC 2011 which involved 184 matches and 80 nations across five continents.

Romania (“the Oaks”) has recorded one victory at a previous Rugby World Cup, edging out Fiji 17-15 in 1991 and has long been a strong competitor outside the Six Nations.

“I am sure Romania will be a tough opponent being an experienced campaigner at this level.”

Land Rover joins RWC sponsorship inventory

Rugby World Cup Limited has announced the appointment of Land Rover as an Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand and a top-level Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 in England.

Land Rover’s support of both tournaments extends the company’s strong association with the Game worldwide. In addition to sponsorship of the last three British & Irish Lions Tours to South Africa, New Zealand and Australia and sponsorship of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, Land Rover has also enhanced its role of Official Vehicle of England Rugby, Premiership Rugby and the UK’s Land Rover Premiership Cup in recent years.

As part of the deal for RWC 2011 and RWC 2015, Land Rover will supply vehicles to support the organisers, teams and officials. It is the first time that the leading car manufacturer has been involved with Rugby’s showcase tournament.

Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Land Rover to the Rugby World Cup family. This long-term partnership with an internationally recognisable brand further enhances the enormous prestige and attraction of Rugby World Cup in the global market place.”

“Land Rover is a true champion of Rugbhttp://www.soldoutticketmarket.com/sports-tickets/rugby-tickets/rugby-world-cup-tickets/y from community to elite level and we look forward to working closely with Land Rover to promote Rugby around the world across two tournaments that will position Rugby in new markets around the world, reaching out to new communities and audiences.”

John Edwards, Global Brand Director, Land Rover, added: “Today’s announcement marks a significant development in the partnership between Land Rover and Rugby. The Company is proud of its ongoing support of the sport from a grassroots level to the elite Game and it is fitting that the world’s finest all-terrain vehicles - sold in over 160 markets worldwide - are now supporting the world’s ultimate Rugby competition.”

“The International Olympic Committee’s decision to include Rugby in the Olympic Games from 2016 will have a hugely significant impact on the growth of the sport in emerging Rugby markets such as America, China and Asia. This global growth is also shown by the IRB’s decisions to host RWC Sevens 2013 in Russia and RWC 2019 in Japan.”

“It is exciting to be involved with the RWC and extend our partnership with Rugby in such an exciting period. The RWC 2011 and RWC 2015 deal offers Land Rover a fantastic opportunity to further engage with our customers and general sports fans across the globe.”

Commenting on Worldwide Partner status for RWC 2015 Edwards said: “We are also delighted to be confirmed as an Official Worldwide Partner for Rugby World Cup 2015. Land Rover has been a long term investor in the development of the sport in the UK, so we are extremely excited to be furthering our association to the very highest level when the Tournament returns to England.”

RWC 2011 establishes entertainment fund

Organisers of next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand have announced that they will set up a NZ$9.5m lottery fund to support arts and entertainment linked to the tournament.

Rugby World Cup minister Murray McCully said: "During Rugby World Cup 2011, we will be staging a nationwide festival which will showcase the best of New Zealand's arts, food and wine, heritage, entertainment, experiences, and lifestyle.

"The New Zealand 2011 Festival Lottery Fund will support all sorts of community events associated with the festival. This could include everything from concerts, fairs, and exhibitions, to street markets and parades."

Anti-Rugby World Cup song campaign builds

The theme song for the Rugby World Cup marketing campaign, which organisers hope fans will sing it from the stands in 2011, was today confirmed as the Feelers' version of British band Jesus Jones' 'Right here, right now'.
Incensed over the choice of a British song to market the 2011 Rugby World Cup, entertainer and poet Gary McCormick is starting a campaign to change the song to a New Zealand one.
A cover of the Jesus Jones' song Right Here, Right Now would be performed by The Feelers, it was announced yesterday.
The Christchurch band's take on the British group's hit would be heard on advertisements for World Cup tickets, the first of which would go on public sale on April 27,
McCormick said the choice of song "reeks of all that colonialism again".
"The people of New Zealand are stumping up a couple of hundred million dollars so far and rising towards this World Cup and it's being held in New Zealand, the very least we can do is have a New Zealand song for the anthem for the World Cup...
"It's been sort of foisted upon us. It's not ours, and the very least we're entitled to hear is our song."
His preferred song was Loyal by Dave Dobbyn, which "would sound wonderful reverberating round the stands".
Loyal was used by Team New Zealand in its 2002 America's Cup campaign, and was chosen as New Zealand's greatest song ever in a 2006 survey.
Right Here, Right Now was being used in a campaign by Ford Motor Company this year, and had previously been used by Kmart, American cable channel TechTV, and a Canadian political candidate.
McCormick's intended campaign would be run through the website of radio station More FM, where he co-hosted a breakfast show.
He was aiming to create a petition which would be passed on to the Rugby World Cup organisers, but he did not believe it had a great chance of success.
Rugby World Cup 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden said yesterday that he was confident the song would catch on.
"I think it is something that, come rugby World Cup time, we are going to hear people singing from the terraces, from the embankment and maybe even from the stands."
Snedden said Right Here, Right Now was chosen because it told the story of a significant moment in history, which was worldwide in its importance but also enormous for one particular country.
The song, originally released in 1990, was inspired by events that led to the end of the Cold War, including the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The lyrics include: "I was alive and I waited for this
Right here, right now, there is no other place I want to be."
Prime Minister John Key, who attend the unveiling in Auckland of the World Cup ticketing process, had no qualms about an overseas song, rather than a New Zealand one, being used, saying it was a catchy tune.
"It's an international event and sometimes using an international song that's so well known make a lot of sense," he said.
"It's a decision that the various organising bodies have made. We are going to support that and it's going to be part of the package that people will hear right around the world."

the hub of Rugby World Cup 2011

The eyes of the world will be on Auckland for the business end of RWC 2011 when Eden Park hosts the Final on 23 October as well as both semi-finals the weekend before.
The city will also host eight pool matches, including the opening match at Eden Park on 9 September.
Held every four years, RWC is the third-biggest sporting event in the world and is Auckland’s chance to showcase itself on the global stage.
The 2011 Tournament will have an estimated television audience of more than four billion people, and we expect up to 85,000 international visitors to come to New Zealand.
RWC 2011 will be held across the country over six weeks, with 20 nations taking part in the 48-game Tournament.
In Auckland you’ll see the world's finest players in action and enjoy a festival atmosphere for fans and locals alike.
We want to make sure all visitors leave our shores having enjoyed the best-ever Rugby World Cup.

Cohen backs Johnson for Rugby World Cup

England World Cup-winner Ben Cohen says that it would be "disastrous" if England team manager Martin Johnson lost his job before next year's Rugby world cup.
Saturday marks the one year before the rugby world cup final in New Zealand next year and Johnson is under pressure to get England performing.
There have been recent reports that Johnson and his coaching staff could face the sack if England do not impress in the autumn internationals which start next week at Twickenham.
Speaking about the speculation that Johnson could lose his job Cohen said: "So if they don't win these autumn internationals or do well in them, he is going to lose his job? Before the World Cup? That would be disastrous."
He added: "He is going to be there until after the World Cup, full stop. Then reassess it.
"There is no point making any changes because you are only going to make things worse. At the moment I think they are in a good place and have a good squad.
"It is non-negotiable within house that they want to win these games, but it is still not the end of the world (if they don't). It would help their confidence massively, but it is a stepping stone.
"You have got to show the effort and be willing and everything that goes with it," he told Eurosport.

Innovative Eden Park Pavilion launched

• Guaranteed Category A undercover seats to Rugby World Cup 2011
• The Eden Park Pavilion - a world-class, dedicated, luxury hospitality venue located adjacent to Eden Park Stadium
• First artist impressions revealed for the Eden Park Pavilion

Eden Park will be home to a striking, luxurious purpose built corporate hospitality venue during Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011, the Tournament Organisers have today announced.

With the clock ticking down to the one year to go milestone, Rugby Travel & Hospitality (RTH) Limited have released the first visuals of a striking temporary structure that will combine tradition with innovation giving hospitality clients a glimpse of what to expect when the Tournament kicks-off on 9 September 2011.

Eden Park Pavilion, ideally located in the shadow of Eden Park will only be a short stroll to the very best Category A undercover seats offered as part of the premium hospitality package and is a way for Rugby fans to guarantee their place at the semi-finals and Final of next year's RWC.

RTH, who won a major award for their innovative record-breaking corporate hospitality programme at RWC 2007 in France, view the Eden Park Pavilion as being the flagship of the Official Tournament Hospitality Programme.

The venue will play host to over 35,000 fans from all over the world during the Tournament, which will feature a distinctive entrance façade standing 53 metres wide by 20 metres high, blending the Official Tournament look and feel with the herringbone aspect of the RWC event mark to create a Rugby ball that will be visible from ground level or the sky.

Inside the Pavilion, fans will experience luxury and innovation through a blend of New Zealand cuisine, fine New Zealand wines and a full entertainment programme to give the venue a unique festival atmosphere. David White, Director of Operations at RTH said: "The Eden Park Pavilion is the culmination of three years of intense planning. New Zealand has never before seen a purpose built structure of this magnitude and quality."

Perfect corporate entertaining environment

Rugby World Cup Limited Chief Executive, Mike Miller, stated: "The team at RTH have unrivalled experience in the creation and delivery of outstanding, world-class hospitality facilities and delivered an award winning highly innovative hospitality programme for RWC 2007 in France. I have no doubt that the Eden Park Pavilion will raise the bar once again, providing the perfect corporate entertaining environment to rival all other major global sporting events."

Tournament Organiser, Rugby New Zealand 2011, Chief Executive, Martin Snedden believes the Eden Park Pavilion will contribute enormously to the success of the Tournament next year. "The Eden Park Pavilion is remarkable and will play a significant role in showcasing the very best of what New Zealand has to offer. We're very excited about this fantastic hospitality venue which we believe will enhance New Zealand's reputation as an outstanding destination for a global sporting event."

Henson to return next season for World cup

Wales Grand Slam star Gavin Henson has told the Ospreys that he will end his sabbattical and return to playing rugby this September - a year before Wales contest the World cup in New Zealand.
Henson has battled with injury since 2008 and and a recurring injury ruled him out of last year Lions tour of South Africa.
The injury caused Henson to become "really depressed" and he went on on unpaid leave from the Ospreys which spread fears that he would quit for good.
However his boss at the Ospreys now says that he will return for the new season.
"Gavin has been honest with me all along," Ospreys" chairman Mike Cuddy told the Daily Mail.
"He has told me he will be back next season and playing before the end of the year."
"All the injuries, especially the prolonged ones over his groin and achilles tendon, got him down.
"He took a break and now he"s feeling all the better for it."
Henson has told the Ospreys he hopes to be fully match-fit well before the end of the year which will be a boost for Wales as they have missed his creative spark and defensive organisation.
New Zealander and Wales coach Warren Gatland considers him "key to our defence and our midfield."
"I hope people don't underestimate his qualitities as a rugby player, not just his attacking ability and kicking ability but what a great defensive player he is." said Gatland.

Train Kills Japanese Rugby World Cup star

Former Japan international rugby player Yasunori Watanabe died after falling in front of a train over the weekend, police said on Monday.
Watanabe, 35, fell onto the track from a platform at the Kamakura station in the south of Tokyo and was run over by an incoming train late on Saturday.
The former flanker was capped 32 times - scoring eight tries - and played in three consecutive rugby World Cups from 1999 to 2007.

Keep Johnson for 2011 Rugby World Cup

Former England winger Rory Underwood says that England manager Martin Johnson is the right man to lead England to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
England have come under fire after winning just two of their Six Nations matches and slipping from second to third place in 2010 which has led questions being asked about Johnson and his coaching staff's credentials.
However the former England winger Underwood told BBC Sport: "I would stick with him until the World Cup.
"Hopefully we'll get things sorted out over the next 18 months and move in the right direction."
Johnson was criticised for a lack of flair in attack during the Six Nations and they went from being the top try scoring team in 2009 to scoring just six tries in five matches in the 2010 tournament.
However even though England lost they did show lots of attacking flair in their 12-10 defeat by Grand Slam champions France in Paris.
Ironically England looked convincing in the early stages and scored a try that would not have looked out of place in tournaments such as the Super14 but when the rain came down England started to struggle.
Try scorer Ben Foden and winger Chris Ashton were impressive throughout and their partnership at the back showed great potential for expansive play.

England must not write Cipriani off for world cup

England have been warned that they will be "shooting themselves in the foot" if they write Danny Cipriani off for next year's  Rugby World Cup.

Cipriani's new club the Melbourne Rebels have signed another northern hemisphere name in former Bath coach Mark Bakewell who will join Wales backrow forward Gareth Delve.

Bakewell established an impressive reputation during three years as forwards coach at the Rec and he says that more northern hemisphere players will sign for the privately-funded Melbourne club for the Super 15.

England Boss Martin Johnson told Cipriani that he will not be part of his elite player squad next season as his Super 15 commitments rule him out of next year’s Six Nations.

France's defence coach tempted by England

Grand Slam champions France's defence coach Dave Ellis says that he would be interested in working for England - but only after the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Martin Johnson's back room staff have come under immense pressure after England failed to win the Six Nations again and slipped from second place to third.
Englishman Ellis has now returned to his day job at London Irish after helping France win their third Grand Slam of the decade.
Ellis who is orginally from Yorkshire and with a background in Rugby League he has been involved with France since 2000 when he was 'hired’ by former France coach Bernard Laporte.
In his time with France he has helped France reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2003 and 2007.
Having reached the Semis twice now Ellis wants to reach the final in 2011 and then admits that working with England could be tempting.

Tonga to start warm up for world cup in Europe

Tonga will start their 2011 Rugby World Cup warm up programme with two matches in Europe next month starting with Italy A.
Tonga will play Italy A and then the French Barbarians all in November next month.
The Tongan Rugby Union says the match against Italy A will take place on November the 19th and then on the 26th of November they will play the French Barbarians.
The International Rugby Board has arranged the tour through a program to help Tier 2 rugby nations prepare for next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Tonga are currently ranked 16th in the world but will open their Rugby World Cup campaign in Auckland New Zealand against New Zealand on September the 9th in the tournament opener.

One year to the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final

Saturday October the 23rd marked another important milestone in the build-up to Rugby World Cup 2011 as it was one year to the Final at Eden Park, Auckland.
"At this point next year, 46 matches would have been played and Rugby fans from around the world will be getting into a state of high excitement as they focus on which team will emerge as victors in this great contest," said Martin Snedden, CEO for Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011.
To celebrate the milestone, the Webb Ellis Cup, the Trophy which will be at stake at the Final, will be on public display at the National Museum Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington for one day only this Saturday.
"This is a great opportunity for fans to get up close to Rugby’s greatest prize so I hope many come along to Te Papa on Saturday and get a taste of what awaits us next year.
"With just a year to the Final, we are well and truly counting down to RWC 2011. Eden Park has reopened, other stadia redevelopments are either completed or on schedule and ticket sales are promising. We are making great progress.