Wales can go far at Rugby World Cup

Former All Black Xavier Rush believes that Wales have the pedigree to go far at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand later this year.

The Cardiff Blues number eight insists that Wales are closing in on the major teams and have the ability to cause an upset at this year’s tournament.

“They  have had their hiccups in the past, but I think when Wales are playing at their best, with some of the exciting players that they have got, they can - on their day - compete with anybody,” added Rush.

“They probably (have) a bit of ground to make up if you are being completely honest,” said Rush, “But... they have some good players.”

Rush says that the teams people should fear from the north of the equator at the World Cup are England and France.

“The two teams which really stand out above all teams in the northern hemisphere so far are England and France. They seem to be the teams that are doing the most damage at the minute.”

"I think England looks particularly good at this stage. I hate to say it, sorry! But they do look very good."
Rush joined Cardiff Blues in 2005 and has represented the All Blacks eight times.

Wales open their World Cup campaign against defending champions South Africa in Wellington on 11th September, before taking on Samoa and Fiji.

Earthquake Recovery minister says Christchurch has to be 'realistic' about hosting World Cup games

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee urged the stricken city to be "realistic" about holding Rugby World Cup matches in September and October after the earthquake caused widespread damage, including to the rugby stadium.

"To lose the Rugby World Cup from Christchurch would be a massive blow," Brownlee said.

"I don't want to see it happen, but we've got to be realistic about the prospect."

Rugby-mad Christchurch is one of the main venues for the seven-week competition, and is slated to hold two quarter-finals on October 8 and 9.

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But Tuesday's earthquake reduced much of the city centre and some suburbs to ruins. Although AMI Stadium has only minor damage, the pitch has been hit by liquefaction, when soil becomes a quagmire because of the ground's shaking.

Stadium officials also reported serious damage around the venue, which is just two kilometres from the rubble-strewn city centre - where Christchurch's biggest hotel is tottering and in danger of collapse.

On Saturday, engineers said as much as a third of the central district, where office buildings folded like packs of cards and entire streets lost their shop frontages, may be demolished and rebuilt.

Christchurch could lose 2011 Rugby world cup

Christchurch must accept the possibility that damage from this week's devastating earthquake could prevent it hosting Rugby World Cup matches, a senior government minister said.
The only venue in Christchurch capable of hosting matches during the tournament, AMI Stadium, was damaged in last Tuesday's 6.3-magnitude tremor and much of the surrounding city was reduced to rubble.
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee, whose parliamentary constituency is in Christchurch, on Saturday said he did not want his rugby-mad hometown to miss out on the World Cup but the prospect could not be avoided.
"To lose the Rugby World Cup from Christchurch would be a massive blow," he told TVNZ. "I don't want to see it happen but we've got to be realistic about the prospect."
Brownlee said it was too early to make a decision on Christchurch's participation in the tournament while the city was still dealing with a disaster that has killed least 123 people.
He pointed out the city had recovered well from another major earthquake last September which also caused extensive damage but amazingly resulted in no fatalities.
"Let's not rush too far ahead of things. This place recovered amazingly well after the September 4 earthquake," he said.
The tournament will be the largest event ever staged in New Zealand, and would face major logistical problems if the disaster meant no matches could be staged in the country's second biggest city.
AMI Stadium's operators expect to know by mid-March whether the venue, which is only two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the badly hit downtown area, can be repaired in time for the September-October rugby showcase.
They say it suffered minor structural damage in Tuesday's quake and the playing field was affected by "liquefaction" -- when the force of tremor's shaking turns the ground into a quagmire.

Quake's affect on Rugby World Cup?

Rugby World Cup officials say it's too early to judge what effect an earthquake in Christchurch that killed at least 65 people will have on this year's tournament.
The magnitude 6.3 quake struck at lunchtime Tuesday, causing havoc in the South Island city that is to be one of the World Cup's key venues.
No reports have been received of damage to the city's main stadium, but hotels have been damaged and city infrastructure shattered. The city center is in ruins and roads have been destroyed.
Canterbury Rugby Union chief executive Hamish Riach told Television New Zealand that "Right now it doesn't feel like we could host very much at all."
But Riach said it was too early to be sure because "everyone is in the immediacy of this traumatic event."
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has described Christchurch as a "scene of utter devastation" and warned that the death toll could rise on what he fears may well be "New Zealand's darkest day." Apart from the dead, officials say at least 100 more people are missing.
Tournament spokesman Mike Jaspers said organizers had contingency plans but could not say when or if they would be implemented. The event runs from Sept. 9 to Oct. 23.
"At this moment it is too early to talk about any implications for the tournament," Jaspers said. "Right now all that has got to take a back seat while Christchurch deals with the aftermath of this tragedy. ... Any assessment must wait while rescue and recovery efforts take priority."
The International Rugby Board said Tuesday its "thoughts and deepest sympathies" were with the people of Christchurch. It added it would be "inappropriate" to comment on the status of infrastructure or operation, and the "focus at this point must be on the emergency response."

Sir Brian Lochore's warm Wairarapa welcome

Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Brian Lochore believes that the Wairarapa provides the ideal environment for teams to prepare for RWC 2011...

The Masterton farmer famously brought the All Blacks over the Rimutakas in the lead-up to their final pool game in 1987, and billeted the players with families in the small Wairarapa hamlet of Pirinoa.

Lochore explains his historical decision: “It was something that we conjured up three or four days before and wasn’t planned. I felt we needed to get away from the big cities and just do something a little bit different.”

It’s with this philosophy that Lochore is welcoming the Georgian national team to the region. The team will spend a week in the Wairarapa, despite there being no fixtures in the province. “It is an honour for the people of Wairarapa, particularly the Rugby folk and it is just as important for all of our residents to be able to host a national team. I know that Georgia are not way up at the top end, but they are still here, still representing their country and certainly wanting to do well.”

Lochore believes the Wairarapa is unique. “It offers relaxation, beauty, a true New Zealand environment. A typical New Zealand farming country scene, with some beautiful little towns with plenty of accommodation and it’s so close to Wellington, which is only an hour away. Being close to a city centre in a totally different environment is important.”

The assistant coach of the Georgian team, Ilia Maisuradze, recently met up with Lochore when he visited the Wairarapa. “We talked about the uniqueness of the Wairarapa, the range of outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting and the vineyards. I suggested to him that we are very happy to get 20 local families to host a couple of Georgian team players for an evening for a typical Kiwi meal.”

Lochore hopes that Georgia not only enjoys the experience of RWC 2011, but also the experience of the Wairarapa. “It’s about playing and enjoyment at the very highest level, it’s about being on the other side of the world. The Wairarapa is totally different to anything you are going to find anywhere else in New Zealand and in fact anywhere else in the world for that matter. We are a Rugby crazy country, even underdogs like Georgia are going to be a focal point of our region while they are here. This will be something the team has never ever experienced anywhere else in the world."

Fans find out Monday about Finals Ballots

The third phase of Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) ticketing opens on Monday when Rugby fans from around the world will find out if they have been successful in the ballots for tickets to the semi-finals and the Final.

“I know many fans will be nervously awaiting the results of the ballots as these tickets have been highly sought after,” said Martin Snedden, CEO of Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011.

The ballots were open to those fans who applied for tickets during the first two phases of RWC 2011 ticketing and who elected to enter into the ballots. Applicants received one entry into each ballot they elected to enter into for each ticket they applied for. Applicants who used a MasterCard® between April 27 and November 21 2010, received double entries. 

There are 15,000 match tickets available in each of the three ballots. Because each offer will consist of an opportunity to purchase two tickets, a total of approximately 7,500 offers will be issued for each match. Applications were received from just over 60,000 fans.

“These tickets are scarce so for those who are successful this is a great opportunity to be ringside at the crunch matches of New Zealand’s biggest ever sports event.”

The road to Rugby World Cup 2011

There will be a new nation competing alongside the game’s traditional heavyweights for the Webb Ellis Cup in New Zealand after Russia successfully qualified for a Rugby World Cup for the first time in their short history as a distinct union.

The Rugby Union of Russia was only established in 1992 following the break-up of the old Soviet Union and just 18 years later, the Bears were celebrating booking a place at RWC 2011 after an historic 21-21 draw with Romania in Sochi on 27 February 2010.

The draw meant Russia were guaranteed a top two finish in the European Nations Cup and one of the region’s two qualification places at RWC 2011. However, it would be another three weeks before they knew they would enter Pool C with Australia, Ireland, Italy and USA, their first opponents at Stadium Taranaki in New Plymouth on 15 September 2011.

“To qualify for the Rugby World Cup is absolutely enormous for us,” said Howard Thomas, the RUR’s Chief Executive. “To get across the line in the European Nations Cup I would say is the hardest route to qualify for Tier Two countries. We have a very competitive league with the likes of Georgia, Romania and Portugal and I’m proud of the players and everyone involved.

“Having said that we know we have to step up enormously. We look at the last World Cup and see how well Georgia did, and obviously Portugal and Romania had their moments and also Namibia. In all the games you play you want to make it a competitive game of rugby. We want to make sure that our defence is up for it, physically we’re up for it and fitness-wise we’re up for it.”

Wing Alexander Gvozdovskiy was the hero for Russia with two tries against Romania. Yury Kushnarev converted one of them and also landed three penalties in the 21-21 stalemate that ensured the qualification.

Realisation dawns for Russia

“For me this is probably the top of my dreams, to play for my country, my national team and to qualify for the World Cup," admitted wing Vasily Artemyev after the team had earned qualification. “It was a very tough emotional task for the players to play a match at such a high level of expectation as we did against Romania, and to be honest after the final whistle went I felt a bit emptied out.

“Then a couple of days after that the achievement that we’d made started to sink in. It’s only now that we’ve started really talking about it as a team that we understand fully what we have achieved with that result.”

From Europe, the Russians were joined by Georgia in qualifying for the finals on the same weekend after they beat Spain 17-9 at the National Stadium in Tbilisi. It was the Lelos’ seventh victory in their previous eight European Nations Cup matches and guaranteed them a third consecutive World Cup appearance.

“Though I am not Georgian, I understand perfectly well how the Georgians must feel now and share with them the excitement any local rugby supporter must experience now that the national team has won its third World Cup ticket in a row and that the word ‘Georgia’ will resound on the international stage once again,” said former Wallaby centre Tim Lane, who has seen been replaced by Richie Dixon as Georgia coach.

“It was our goal to bring Georgia to the Rugby World Cup again and I am really happy that this goal has been achieved. Now our goal as a team is to make a worthy appearance at the finals.”

The final day meeting between Georgia and Russia would not only decide the ENC champion, but also who qualified as Europe 1 and 2 for RWC 2011. Georgia claimed the title after triumphing 36-8 and, in the process, booked their place in Pool B at RWC 2011 with Argentina, England, Scotland and the Play-off Winner.

Fans find out Monday about Finals Ballots

The third phase of Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) ticketing opens on Monday when Rugby fans from around the world will find out if they have been successful in the ballots for tickets to the semi-finals and the Final.

“I know many fans will be nervously awaiting the results of the ballots as these tickets have been highly sought after,” said Martin Snedden, CEO of Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011.

The ballots were open to those fans who applied for tickets during the first two phases of RWC 2011 ticketing and who elected to enter into the ballots. Applicants received one entry into each ballot they elected to enter into for each ticket they applied for. Applicants who used a MasterCard® between April 27 and November 21 2010, received double entries. 

There are 15,000 match tickets available in each of the three ballots. Because each offer will consist of an opportunity to purchase two tickets, a total of approximately 7,500 offers will be issued for each match. Applications were received from just over 60,000 fans.

“These tickets are scarce so for those who are successful this is a great opportunity to be ringside at the crunch matches of New Zealand’s biggest ever sports event.”

RWC 2011 Observer Programme launched

Rugby World Cup 2011 organisers are inviting members of the global sports family to apply to participate in the tournament’s official Observer Programme.

The innovative programme, hosted by tournament owners Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), organising body Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Limited and the New Zealand Government, will be run over the semi-final weekend of October 15-17, 2011.

The programme is designed to provide a unique insight into the bidding, delivery, hosting and legacy of one of the world’s largest sports events. Participants will gain an invaluable insight into all the tournament’s functional areas from Rugby Services, Broadcast and Media Operations to Finance, Venues and City Operations.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The RWC 2007 Observer Programme was a major highlight of the learning experience, bringing together members of the Rugby and wider sporting family to share experience, transfer knowledge, build relationships and get a better understanding of how one of the world’s premier sports events operates.”

“This year we are expanding the programme to involve all major stakeholders. We are delighted to be partnering with the New Zealand Government in the delivery of the programme to provide a fascinating insight into the role that Governments play in the delivery of major events including Regional showcasing, festival development, economic impact, financial support and engaging a nation.”

RNZ 2011 General Manager Tournament Services, Nigel Cass said: “I can’t speak highly enough of how the RWC 2007 Observer Programme allowed us to learn first hand about some of the key issues we would be grappling with. What it allowed us to do was see behind the scenes as the final stages of the Tournament actually happened and hear valuable insights from the French Organising Committee as they planned and delivered the event.”

An integral element of the Rugby World Cup knowledge transfer process, the RWC 2011 Observer Programme also provides the opportunity for future Host Unions to live, learn and experience Rugby World Cup operations. Key participants will be representatives from England Rugby 2015 and the Japan Rugby Football Union, the hosts of RWC 2015 and RWC 2019 respectively.

Lapasset added: “For future Hosts, attending Rugby World Cup 2011 represents a valuable opportunity to learn and experience the event live. During the Observer Programme each future Host can not only witness how things are done, but also study specific areas, so that they can learn and improve upon these within their own organisational and cultural context.”

Brian Roche confirmed as RNZ 2011 Chairman

Brian Roche, who is the current Acting Chairman of Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Ltd, the organisation responsible for the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2011, has been confirmed as the organisation’s Chairman.

Due to ill health, former Chairman Jock Hobbs resigned from the Board in December 2010.

The appointment has been confirmed by the two shareholders, the New Zealand Government and the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU).

Mr Roche, who is also CEO of New Zealand Post, was appointed Acting Chairman of RNZ 2011 in May last year following Jock Hobbs’ initial health concerns.

Jock Hobbs continues to receive treatment and media are asked to respect his and the Hobbs family’s privacy at this time.

Wellington Fanzone given symbolic opening

Wellington welcomed the opening of the “Wharewaka o Poneke”, the site for one of the city’s Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) Fanzones with a symbolic dawn ceremony on Waitangi Day.

A showcase for Maori culture and the base for the Rugby World Cup 2011 village

The Wharewaka is an important new addition to Wellington's waterfront and reflects the city's commitment to local Maori. It was specifically designed to house the Wellington City waka (canoe), Te Raukura.

Construction of the Wharewaka began in January last year and Mayor Celia Wade-Brown is delighted to see it finished.

"Wellington should be very proud of this building. It's a building you couldn't see anywhere else in the world.”

The Wharewaka has exhibition and function areas, a cafe, commercial kitchen and office space. It will host pōwhiri (welcome ceremonies) and cultural performances, and feature carvings and interactive history displays.

The Wharewaka will also be the centrepiece of Wellington's RWC 2011 Fanzone, creating a fan village around the building which will host a programme of activities to provide a unique cultural experience for visitors and locals during RWC 2011.

Said Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011) CEO Martin Snedden: “The opening of the Wharewaka is another important milestone in Wellington’s preparations for RWC 2011. It will provide a really special backdrop for locals and visitors to enjoy the atmosphere of the Tournament.”

The Wharewaka's exterior design is based on the form of a korowai (cloak), which has in recent times come to reflect mana and prestige. The design is based on the traditional sails of the waka fleet and metal panels symbolise the cloak's arms draping over the sides of the building.

Biarritz give backing to Barcella

Biarritz have urged prop Fabien Barcella not to give up on a place at the World Cup, after he said he had lost hope of earning a recall in 2011.

Barcella sustained a serious Achilles tendon injury in August last year and has yet to return to action, with the World Cup starting in September.

"Announcing today that he won't be able to compete is curious as nothing suggests that this is the case and in the end, only the France coach... will take a decision this summer," said Biarritz in a statement sent to AFP.

The Basque club added: "Although it's true that the player suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury in 2010, he is today on the road to recovery and should finish the season with BOPB."

Biarritz have a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse to come in the near future and are also in contention for a Top 14 semi-final berth.

In an interview on the website of radio station RMC Sport, Barcella said he did not have enough time to force his way into Marc Lievremont's thinking.

"It's a very frustrating injury and some players have taken a year and a half to come back from it," said Barcella, who has 12 France caps.

"I've never had any illusions. I need to get back for my club, and then for France, but there's a huge gap between the two. International rugby is very demanding."

Bok coaches told to focus only on world cup

The Springbok management group have been told to shelve their part-time jobs in order to focus on the Springboks world cup campaign.
The executive council of the SA Rugby Union were concerned about the amount of freelancing work the management team did last year and asked president Oregan Hoskins to tell them to concentrate on the world cup.
"We've made a blanket request that they focus on the World Cup and that none of the management team do any work outside their obligations to Saru," chief executive Jurie Roux told Timeslive.
"They can still do some things in their free time, but they need to get consent for any outside work they want to do."
The directive will impact on forward coach Gary Gold and backline coach Dick Muir in particular.
Gold has media commitments with SA Rugby Magazine and the website RugbyIQ
Muir, who came under fire for the Springboks lack of edge in the backline is the Lions and the International Rugby Academy.
Members of Saru's executive council has aired concerns that Muir's position is a conflict of interests as he could use his position to poach players for the Lions.
SARugby's stance could mean that Muir is forced to leave his director of rugby position at the Lions.
Lions president Kevin de Klerk said: "From the Lions side, we would concur (with Saru) 100%. Dick has been valuable for us, but we also appreciate he needs to be fully involved with Saru.
"I can see the necessity of being fully involved at that level, looking at the time and commitment John Mitchell has put into the Currie Cup and Super rugby."
"I feel that commitment can only be greater for a national coach."
Asked if Muir would still be employed by the Lions after the rugby world cup De Klerk was noncommittal.
"We'll always try to do the right thing by him. We feel we must not put him in a position where he has to make a choice of allegiances," De Klerk told TimesLive.
"But we're going to sit down and try to find a solution over the next week or so because so much can happen in a year."

Lynagh backs Cipriani to shine in southern sojourn

England's loss could be Melbourne's considerable gain.
That's the view of former Wallabies skipper Michael Lynagh, who believes the Melbourne Rebels' signing of English five-eighths Danny Cipriani for the upcoming Super Rugby season is a smart piece of business.
Lynagh, a member of the 1984 Grand Slam-winning squad and the 1991 World Cup champion Wallabies, sees mutual benefit in Cipriani's decision to abandon the Northern Hemisphere.
"There's a lot of interest in the Melbourne team with Cipriani playing there, a huge amount of interest in it actually," the legendary No 10 said from the Laureus Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi. "It's unfortunate circumstances that somebody as young and talented as him feels he has to leave because for whatever reasons he's feels he's not getting a fair look-in into the national set-up.
"I think there's faults on both sides. I think he's a very talented player and he's got a lot to offer and leaving the environment that he's been in might be good for him."

Cipriani, 23, has scored 49 points in seven tests for England and is considered one of the country's brightest rugby talents.
But he's almost as famous for his playboy lifestyle and string of model girlfriends as for his exploits on the pitch. He was dropped from the England squad before a likely debut in 2008 for "inappropriate behaviour" after being caught leaving a London nightclub after midnight two days before a match.

Rokocoko commits to All Blacks for RWC

Winger Joe Rokocoko has committed to the All Blacks for next year's World Cup on home soil, putting an end to media speculation about his immediate playing future.
The 27-year-old, the All Blacks most capped winger with 66 Tests, had extended his national contract until the end of 2011 and will play another season for the Auckland Blues in the revamped Super rugby season next year.
"I am really enjoying my rugby here at home and keen to continue playing throughout the rest of the year and into 2011," Rokocoko said.
"It's obviously going to be a massive year for New Zealand rugby next year and I want to be part of it."
Rokocoko started in six Tests this year in an injury-affected season and had been linked to a big-money move to French club Toulon with a raft of fringe players vying for his spot.
"Joe is the ultimate professional, a favourite with the fans and in his eighth year of professional rugby continues to be an outstanding rugby player," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said.
"We are delighted that he has extended his contract through until next year."

Wellington positive about RWC 2011 plans

Yesterday, a number of key business leaders in Wellington pledged their ongoing support for Rugby World Cup 2011 at the Wellington Local Business Forum.

The forum, organised by the Wellington Regional Coordination Group, was attended by over 200 local businesspeople representing a diverse range of industries including sport, accommodation, tourism, hospitality and transport.

The event provided a chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges that RWC 2011 will provide in the Wellington region.

Updates were given by a number of key stakeholders including the Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast, Wellington City Council Chief Executive Garry Poole, Robert Rendle, Senior Solicitor with the Ministry of Economic Development and Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Ltd CEO Martin Snedden.

Mr Snedden was encouraged by the optimistic atmosphere of the forum: “There is a really positive outlook towards RWC 2011 here in Wellington. I got a good sense from this forum that the region will work really well collaboratively to make the Tournament a success in the capital city.”

“I have every confidence in the regional team here in Wellington. Their planning and preparedness for the Tournament is some of the best I have seen in the country,” he added.

Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said she got a sense from the forum that local businesspeople are very aware that RWC 2011 is now not far away at all. “There was a real buzz at the end - and it was good to know that the Tournament organising team in our region already has widespread support from the business community,” she said.

Wellington Regional Stadium will host five pool matches and two quarter-final matches as part of RWC 2011.

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland lies on a narrow strip of land less than 2 kilometres wide at its narrowest point.  With Waitemate Harbour to the north which opens east to the Hauraki Gulf, and Manukau Harbour to the south, Auckland has a temperate oceanic climate and it is also the warmest and sunniest of all the cities in New Zealand.  It is surrounded by tropical forests and slumbering volcanoes, making Auckland a spectacular back drop for the Rugby World Cup 2011.  Most of Auckland’s matches will be decided at Eden Park with three pool matches to be played at North Harbour Stadium, and the final showdown at Eden Park on 23 October 2011.  With great venues such as trendy Kingsland and Viaduct Harbour, excellent bars and 4 official fan zones, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to watching your team fight it out.  There will also be open training sessions where you can meet the players from New Zealand, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Namibia, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa and Tonga.

Auckland is known for its excellent public transport system. The MAXX Journey Planner includes rail, bus, ferry and walking routes, making it very easy get around.

Be sure to visit some of Auckland’s most famous attractions, everyone needs a break! Rangitoto Island is a sleeping volcano which emerged a mere 600 years ago in the middle of the Hauraki Gulf. You can explore this island with a walk or a drive. Sky Tower is the highest building in the Southern Hemisphere at 192 meters. If you are feeling brave and have been inspired by the spirited Haka, you can have a go at base jumping, or simply walk around the outside of the Sky Tower for a real sky high thrill. Be sure to visit the fabulous rotating Orbit Restaurant. Auckland Harbour Bridge is another must for adrenaline junkies, climb over it, or bungee jump off it! You will be rewarded with panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas. Auckland also has a rich cultural heritage and the biggest collection of Maori treasures in the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

RWC 2011 Observer Programme launched

Rugby World Cup 2011 organisers are inviting members of the global sports family to apply to participate in the tournament’s official Observer Programme.

The innovative programme, hosted by tournament owners Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), organising body Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Limited and the New Zealand Government, will be run over the semi-final weekend of October 15-17, 2011.

The programme is designed to provide a unique insight into the bidding, delivery, hosting and legacy of one of the world’s largest sports events. Participants will gain an invaluable insight into all the tournament’s functional areas from Rugby Services, Broadcast and Media Operations to Finance, Venues and City Operations.

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.

Rugby World Cup - New Zealand 2011

The 2011 Rugby World Cup, to be held throughout New Zealand, will be a truly international festival of sport, attracting teams and spectatorsworldwide.


Venues Hosting Rugby World Cup 2011
Many of New Zealand's major rugby stadia have been rebuilt, refurbished or replaced in preparation for Rugby World 2011.

Auckland's Eden Park, where the final will take place, has been upgraded and modernised to satisfy the best international standards for players, spectators and broadcasters alike. Christchurch's AMI Stadium , originally Lancaster Park, has been rebuilt over a period of five years with the final stages now complete a year in advance of Rugby World Cup 2011.

Dunedin's historic Carisbrook hosted its last test match in June 2010 when Wales were the visitors. Crisbrook had become something of a relic with completely inadequate facilities for the needs of the modern age. It is being replaced by a purpose built stadium closer to Dunedin's city centre. This stadium will come complete with a roof, very handy indeed given the winter inclemence of the Dunedin weather.

Wellington's Athletic Park was replaced by a new stadium, the Westpac Stadium, popularly known as the Cake Tin, in the early part of this century.

Elsewhere throughout New Zealand, Hamilton's Athletic Park, Whangarei's Okara Park, Napier's Athletic Park and New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium have been upgraded in advance of Rugby World Cup 2011.
Highlights of Previous Rugby World Cups

The 1987 tournament, held in New Zealand, brought the sport of rugby union into line with other major world codes in organising a world cup,which would be held every four years.

The 1991 Rugby World Cup saw the emergence of some of the smaller rugby playing nations around the world, the Pacific nation Samoa upsetting one of the traditional powers of the game Wales in Cardiff.

The 1995 Rugby World Cup was hosted by South Africa, recently returned to the international sporting fold following its isolation during the days of apartheid. South African President Nelson Mandela's presence at the Final, played against traditional foes New Zealand, proved both emotional and an inspiration to the host country as they went on to take the trophy for the first time.

New Zealand for Rugby World Cup

Expect New Zealand to be packed during September and October of 2011 in what will be yet another fantastic festival of Rugby with thousands of fanatical but friendly supporters converging on the country and venues as well as taking in the sights in this colourful and different Country.
The previous World Cups were held in Australia and New Zealand (1987), England, France, Scotland, Ireland and Wales (1991), South Africa (1995), Wales, Ireland, England, Scotland and France (1999), Australia(2003), France (2007) and we will be in New Zealand next (2011).

IRB statement on Jock Hobbs

The International Rugby Board is saddened to learn that Jock Hobbs has stepped down from his position as Chairman of both the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Limited due to ill health.

Hobbs was elected Chairman of the NZRU in 2002 and has served with distinction, overseeing considerable success on and off the pitch while securing New Zealand the right to host Rugby World Cup 2011.

“Jock's contribution to New Zealand Rugby as Chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union and to world Rugby as an IRB Council Member has been considerable," said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"Amongst numerous highlights to date he provided the vision and leadership that secured New Zealand the right to host Rugby World Cup 2011 and as Chairman of RNZ 2011 those qualities have underpinned planning and preparation that is on track and on target to deliver an exceptional tournament."

"While Jock will no longer be hands on in the day to day delivery of the tournament, his legacy remains strong and I am sure that his dedication will be rewarded with a tournament that will write another successful chapter in the Rugby World Cup success story and an event that all New Zealanders can be proud of."

“On behalf of the International Rugby Board and the global Rugby family, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Jock for his immense contribution to global Rugby and I would also like to extend our very best wishes and support during this difficult time."

Top 14 Rugby bosses dock Bourgoin five points

French Top 14 Rugby bosses deducted Top 14 strugglers Bourgoin five points due to their worrying financial situation.
The Club's lawyer says that they would appeal the sanction which would leave Bourgoin with just five points after 15 matches.
If five points were deducted from Bourgoin they would trail nearest rivals La Rochelle by 16 points and 17 points behind the third last Brive.
Under Top 14 rules the bottom two clubs are relegated so the deduction would almost gaurantee their relegation.
Bourgoin forcasted end-of-season debts of around 1.5 million euros which is around 10 percent of their annual budget.

Tindall scare for England as veteran centre suffers thigh injury in training

England have been hit by yet another injury scare ahead of the Six Nations after Mike Tindall was sent home from training in Portugal suffering a thigh injury.

The 32-year-old Gloucester captain and World Cup-winning centre was dispatched to London for an MRI scan.

Initial reports from the RFU were that no 'major damage' had been detected.

Tindall is due to rejoin Martin Johnson's national squad when they convene at their Surrey base on Saturday to prepare for the championship opener against Wales in Cardiff next Friday.

While the tone of the official bulletin was upbeat, England have grown accustomed to early optimism being shattered upon further assessment of injuries.

This was the case with regular captain Lewis Moody, whose knee injury was not thought to be serious. He was ruled out for six weeks.

Johnson and his coaches will be alive to the threat of having to reshuffle their back line, which had seemed so settled. In theory, the combinations that dazzled in bursts during the autumn would be retained - Ben Youngs and Toby Flood at half back, Shontayne Hape and Tindall in midfield and Mark Cueto, Chris Ashton and Ben Foden in the back three.

Should there be any lingering doubt about Tindall's ability to play at the Millennium Stadium, it would reinforce the fact that England are short of specialist options at outside centre.

When he was rested for the November Test against Samoa, Bath wing Matt Banahan did a steady job of filling the gap and Johnson admires the physical attributes that the 6ft 8in, 17st Jersey giant can bring to the No 13 position.

In theory, Hape could move one place along the line, but that would complicate the picture at inside centre.

Delon Armitage would have been a contender but he is banned and England are unlikely to pitch David Strettle, a specialist wing, into a role he has filled just a handful of times at club level.

Below the elite squad, James Simpson-Daniel has impressed at outside centre and various positions for Gloucester. Of the out-and-out No 13s, Dan Hipkiss has just come back from injury at Leicester, Sale's Mathew Tait is out of action and Dominic Waldouck of Wasps has dropped off the radar for now.

Crowe makes move for Sonny Bill

Actor Russell Crowe has reportedly approached Sonny Bill Williams about making a return to rugby league after this year's World Cup with South Sydney.

Williams has established himself as a centre of enormous potential in the 15-man code with some scintillating displays for the All Blacks since signing a one-year deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union last year. However, his commitment to union was called into question recently after he announced his intention to persist with his attempts to cut it in the world of professional boxing.

Williams is being aided in his preparations for his next bout by former super-middleweight champion Anthony Mundine, who, according to the Sun Herald, recently introduced the player to Crowe, the Oscar-winning actor who co-owns South Sydney. The paper claims that Crowe is now attempting to persuade Williams to follow in the footsteps of Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis in signing for the Rabbitohs.

Williams became a superstar within the 13-man code during his time with the Bulldogs before switching codes in 2008 to link up with French Top 14 outfit Toulon. He returned to his native New Zealand last year and will play for the Crusaders in the 2011 Super Rugby series. He is expected to play a key role in the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup campaign but his future after the tournament remains shrouded in mystery.

Bastareaud not good enough

French coach Marc Lièvremont has his explained his decision to leave out centre Mathieu Bastareaud and recall veteran prop Sylvain Marconnet in to his 30-man squad for the Six Nations.

The 34-year-old Marconnet has 80 international caps, but played only one Six Nations match last year - the 33-10 home win against Ireland. His presence will give Lièvremont added toughness, experience and leadership.

"I have faith in him, his competitive spirit, his experience, his versatility," said Lièvremont.

"He can play on the left, on the right. He may not be the Sylvain Marconnet of 10 years ago ... but I preferred him to less experienced guys."

Bastareaud played all of the Six Nations games last year, but was then dropped for Tests against Fiji, Argentina and Australia.

"I asked him, before November, to improve his physical form and state of mind. I wasn't listened to, " said Lièvremont.

"From all the feedback I've had from Stade Français, there are better [players] today at outside centre than Mathieu Bastareaud.

"We can regret it, given his enormous potential. Even if there is an injury to one of the centres, we'll call up [wing] Julien Malzieu because we like Clément Poitrenaud in [midield]."

David Marty was preferred to Florian Fritz at centre, and scrum-half Julien Dupuy was also left out along with the 22-year-old Bastareaud.

But Lièvremont insists "they are not excluded" from an eventual return before he names his squad for the World Cup later this year adding that loose forwards Wenceslas Lauret and Louis Picamoles are also still in the running.

France won the Grand Slam last year, but ended the season with a stinging 16-59 home defeat to Australia that rocked the team.

France begin their title defence against Scotland at Stade de France on February 5, then travel to play Ireland.

The loss to Australia - where France capitulated after being level 13-13 at half-time - has made Lièvremont reassess his own leadership skills.

Lièvremont says he needs to "to be stricter, to be clearer" with his players and that the Australia debacle highlighted how there was "a collective failure" in his team to respond to the Wallabies.

Johnson hopeful of Lawes return

England manager Martin Johnson remains hopeful that injured lock Courtney Lawes may yet feature in this season's Six Nations after a knee injury appeared to rule him out of the championship.
Johnson's preparations for the Six Nations have been thrown into turmoil in recent weeks, with key forwards Lawes and Tom Croft injured and second row Dave Attwood picking up a suspension for stamping.
Both Croft and Lawes - two vital components of England's improved performances in the autumn series - were believed to have no chance of playing in the Six Nations after suffering shoulder and knee injuries respectively.
However Johnson is clinging to the hope that both men may be able to recover before England conclude their campaign against Ireland in Dublin on March 19.
"Tom and Courtney both have a chance of playing rugby by the end of the tournament," Johnson said Wednesday as he announced a 33-man squad for the series.
"Tom is making good progress with the Leicester medics and our guys and it is the same with Courtney, so they are both week to week and hopefully they will be fitter sooner rather than later and make the end of the tournament.

Rugby World Cup lottery lands Fiji in trouble

A national lottery which was organised to help raise funds for Fiji to participate in the Rugby world cup could have the opposite effect as the organisers now face a fine.
The lottery could end up deepening the Fiji Rugby Union's financial problems as they face a fine of F$125,000 (US$82,500) for discounting tickets.
Fiji's Commerce Commission threatened to impose the fine after the Fiji Rugby Union reduced the price of tickets from F$20 (US$11) to F$10 to boost sluggish sales.
The Commission has given the union five days to comply with a series of demands to avoid the fine, which would severely damage its already perilous financial position.
The union is required to advertise in all daily newspapers, offering to repay F$10 to anyone who bought a ticket at the original price.

The lottery, which was drawn last week, carried cash prizes of F$100,000, F$70,000 and F$30,000 - substantial sums in the Pacific nation where wages are low.

 

The Commerce Commission has ordered the union not to pay prizewinners until its instructions have been complied with.

Fiji Rugby Union chairman Bill Gavoka said his union was "shocked" by the Commerce Commission's directive and believed it had complied with all terms of its lottery permit.
"Put very simply, the permit did not prohibit us from discounting the price of the ticket and like any business, we used that ability to discount as a way of moving inventory that was not selling," Gavoka said in a statement.

Namibia seal African spot

“I was very happy with our defence,” O’Sullivan said. “It went very well today. We scrummaged better and stopped their rolling maul, which were the two parts of the game that we needed to improve from last week. I feel happy with the way we finished, although Uruguay made us work for it.

“It’s tough to hit the ground running after not being together since July, and although we qualified, which was our ultimate goal, they were a little rusty early on. I can’t be too hard on them, though, they got the job done and you can’t forget that we scored eight tries in the last two games.”

Namibia then became the fourth team to confirm their place at New Zealand 2011. Tunisia stood between them and a World Cup place but over two legs the Welwitschias proved the stronger and emerged 40-23 aggregate winners.

A tight 18-13 triumph for Namibia in Tunis in the first leg left the outcome hanging in the balance, but a fortnight later they proved too strong for their visitors as they battled their way to a crucial 22-10 victory in Windhoek.

Tunisia began the encounter the more confident looking side and scored the first try through wing Abbes Kherfani, while Namibia had to rely on the boot of fly half Emile Wessels to keep them in contention.

The critical score for the hosts, however, came on the hour when number 8 Tinus du Plessis crashed over in the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium, and when the final whistle sounded, the Welwitschias were through and could look forward to a match with defending champions South Africa in Pool D.

French poll picks All Blacks to win World Cup

New Zealand can't lose this year's Rugby World Cup if the French view is anything to go by.
Eighty percent of respondents to a poll conducted by leading French sports newspaper L'Equipe believe the All Blacks will take out the cup.
The respondents are not so confident about France's chances with more than half saying that their team will not make the quarter final.
The All Blacks and Les Bleus are in the same pool of the competition.

Russia to take on heartland New Zealand

As part of their preparations for Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011), the Russian national team is in New Zealand for a two week training camp which will see them play invitational teams in the Rugby heartlands of Taranaki and South Canterbury.  

Russia will play their first match against a Taranaki invitational team on January 15 at 5pm at Clifton Rugby Ground at Tikorangi Domain. The match is free to the public with activities for the whole family including Rippa Rugby from 4.30pm and a sausage sizzle. A return shuttle bus is also available for the day from the New Plymouth i-Site Visitor Centre at a cost of $5.

Following a further week of training, the team will play another match against a South Canterbury invitation on January 21 at 7pm at the home of the South Canterbury Rugby Union. Again it will be a family affair with activities for the kids, a display of V8 racing cars and a curtain raiser between the South Canterbury Police vs Fire Service at 5pm. The Webb Ellis Cup will also be on display pre-match with photo opportunities. Tickets are $10 for aduts and free for children under 16 and available at the gate.

It is the first time Russia have qualified for a Rugby World Cup Tournament and the team is quickly stealing the hearts of the New Zealand public, who are eager to adopt a second team for 2011. Russia will compete in Pool C at RWC 2011 against Australia, Ireland, Italy and the USA.

Realisation dawns for Russia

“For me this is probably the top of my dreams, to play for my country, my national team and to qualify for the World Cup," admitted wing Vasily Artemyev after the team had earned qualification. “It was a very tough emotional task for the players to play a match at such a high level of expectation as we did against Romania, and to be honest after the final whistle went I felt a bit emptied out.

“Then a couple of days after that the achievement that we’d made started to sink in. It’s only now that we’ve started really talking about it as a team that we understand fully what we have achieved with that result.”

From Europe, the Russians were joined by Georgia in qualifying for the finals on the same weekend after they beat Spain 17-9 at the National Stadium in Tbilisi. It was the Lelos’ seventh victory in their previous eight European Nations Cup matches and guaranteed them a third consecutive World Cup appearance.

“Though I am not Georgian, I understand perfectly well how the Georgians must feel now and share with them the excitement any local rugby supporter must experience now that the national team has won its third World Cup ticket in a row and that the word ‘Georgia’ will resound on the international stage once again,” said former Wallaby centre Tim Lane, who has seen been replaced by Richie Dixon as Georgia coach.

“It was our goal to bring Georgia to the Rugby World Cup again and I am really happy that this goal has been achieved. Now our goal as a team is to make a worthy appearance at the finals.”

The final day meeting between Georgia and Russia would not only decide the ENC champion, but also who qualified as Europe 1 and 2 for RWC 2011. Georgia claimed the title after triumphing 36-8 and, in the process, booked their place in Pool B at RWC 2011 with Argentina, England, Scotland and the Play-off Winner.

Fifty-seven nations on rise in rankings

Fifty-seven nations have been given a New Year boost with a one place elevation in the latest IRB World Rankings as a result of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union being phased out on 31 December 2010.

In an exciting restructure in the West Asia region, the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union has been disbanded to pave the way for new Unions to be formed, providing the impetus for the growth of the Game.

Team Managers gather for Tournament overview

Team managers from the twenty participating nations were greeted with a powhiri [Maori welcome] as they gathered at New Zealand House in London this week to for a detailed overview of preparations for next year’s Tournament.

While the city was in the grip of a heavy snowfall, inside, the managers got down to work amidst backdrops of New Zealand’s scenic beauty to remind them of how different their surroundings will be in just over nine months time.

Managers included representatives of the newly qualified Romanian team which clinched the final berth at Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) after defeating Uruguay on the weekend in Bucharest.

They were welcomed by International Rugby Board (IRB) CEO Mike Miller, Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011) CEO Martin Snedden, and Rugby World Cup Tournament Director Kit McConnell.

“It was a really valuable day and a half,” said McConnell. “We had a great mix of veterans who have been team managers for nearly a decade now or in some cases up to 15 years, along with some who were new to the job and in fact aren’t even starting until the New Year. So it was a real mix of personalities and experience.”

Managers were taken through various aspects of the Tournament preparations including security, medical, anti-doping, match officials and communications.

“We were able to provide an in-depth look inside our preparations and give them the sort of reassurance they need now that we are well under 300 days to kick-off,” said Nigel Cass, General Manager Tournament Services for RNZ 2011.

“The general view is that our plans are well developed and the services they are going to get at the Tournament will be first rate.”

“We are into a lot of detail now in terms of the planning,” said McConnell. “All of the logistics around the team’s participation are locked away, obviously everything from match schedules to team hotels to flights, so we know exactly who is going to be where when and what they are doing. We are really just locking in the smaller details now so this meeting was a valuable exercise in building confidence in the Tournament.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, coin tosses were held for each of the 40 pool matches to determine choice of changing room, playing kit, time of Captain’s run and the match day coin toss. Managers used the commemorative Webb Ellis silver New Zealand one dollar coin.

My enthusiasm for RWC in NZ: Paul Morgan

There is only one country in the world where the live televising of the Rugby World Cup final would appear simultaneously on five channels! That's right, five different TV channels, not one or two but five and that country is, of course, New Zealand.

So considering this level of obsession with the great sport of rugby union, it is in many ways apt that the seventh staging of the Rugby World Cup should appear in the land of the long white cloud, and that they become the first nation to host it twice.

Those of us who have been lucky enough to visit New Zealand on rugby tours will testify to this obsession and it is true that when you meet someone in the street - any street - they can dissect the Wallaby lineout as well as Graham Henry.

We've heard all the doom-mongers talk about the lack of beds and infrastructure but one thing I can guarantee anyone lucky enough to go to New Zealand in September or October 2011 is a party they'll never forget.

Touring in many ‘rugby’ countries can be beset by indifference. I have turned up in many towns on Lions tours to be greeted by a population that barely knows what rugby is. That will definitely not be the case in New Zealand. The matches in all 12 venues will be welcomed with a frenzy and will be the biggest show in town by a long way.

My enthusiasm for a New Zealand World Cup can be explained by those many and enjoyable trips to the country. For a rugby fan there is no better place to watch the game, because the sport is knitted into the fabric of every part of life in New Zealand.

They have a Rugby Channel for goodness sake. Not a sports channel that shows lots of rugby as many countries have. They have a Rugby Channel that shows nothing but rugby - that alone should make you appreciate how enthusiastic the Kiwis will be to put on a great show. It guarantees that every restaurant, hotel, pub and fan zone will go rugby crazy in those two months.

As a journalist I want to be at the centre of the action, following the event that the country is talking about. That is guaranteed in New Zealand. What other country would move their school terms to accommodate a Rugby World Cup? Only, New Zealand.

RTÉ Sport awarded Irish free-to-air rights

Rugby World Cup Limited has announced the appointment of RTÉ Sport as Ireland’s free-to-air television broadcast rights holders for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

The announcement is another major boost for Rugby fans in Ireland, following the appointment of Setanta Sports as Primary Rights Holder and ensuring that there will be extensive coverage of the world’s third largest sports event within the Republic.

RTÉ Sport will broadcast live 13 key matches, including all of Ireland’s Pool matches, the Final, the Bronze Final, both semi-finals, all four quarter-finals and the opening match. All 13 matches will also be simulcast and available for catch-up on RTÉ.ie. In addition, all of Ireland’s games will be broadcast exclusively live on RTÉ Radio, ensuring a blanket multi-platform approach.

Mike Miller, Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) Managing Director, said: “RWCL is delighted to be extending its association with RTÉ Sport to broadcast Rugby World Cup 2011 throughout Ireland. RTÉ is recognised as a leading broadcaster of quality sports coverage and with its extensive broadcast experience of Rugby and commitment to the Game RTÉ will ensure the perfect platform for RWC 2011 to reach out to an extensive audience across Ireland.”

Ryle Nugent, RTÉ Group Head of Sport, said: "We are delighted to have secured these rights to ensure that the Irish public will enjoy live free-to-air coverage of all of Ireland’s games at Rugby World Cup next year. The Tournament showcases the best teams in the world and fans can look forward to following the Irish team’s progression every step of the way on all of RTÉ’s platforms. The awarding of these rights to RTÉ is recognition by RWCL of the quality of our sports coverage and we look forward to sharing what is set to be a momentous sporting occasion with the Irish public.”

Rugby World Cup 2011, the seventh edition of Rugby’s showcase event, kicks off in New Zealand on September 9 and will feature the top 20 teams in the world competing across 48 Tournament matches. The Final will be played on October 23 at Auckland's iconic Eden Park. It is expected that the Tournament will be broadcast to four billion fans worldwide.

The road to Rugby World Cup 2011

There will be a new nation competing alongside the game’s traditional heavyweights for the Webb Ellis Cup in New Zealand after Russia successfully qualified for a Rugby World Cup for the first time in their short history as a distinct union.

The Rugby Union of Russia was only established in 1992 following the break-up of the old Soviet Union and just 18 years later, the Bears were celebrating booking a place at RWC 2011 after an historic 21-21 draw with Romania in Sochi on 27 February 2010.

The draw meant Russia were guaranteed a top two finish in the European Nations Cup and one of the region’s two qualification places at RWC 2011. However, it would be another three weeks before they knew they would enter Pool C with Australia, Ireland, Italy and USA, their first opponents at Stadium Taranaki in New Plymouth on 15 September 2011.

“To qualify for the Rugby World Cup is absolutely enormous for us,” said Howard Thomas, the RUR’s Chief Executive. “To get across the line in the European Nations Cup I would say is the hardest route to qualify for Tier Two countries. We have a very competitive league with the likes of Georgia, Romania and Portugal and I’m proud of the players and everyone involved.

“Having said that we know we have to step up enormously. We look at the last World Cup and see how well Georgia did, and obviously Portugal and Romania had their moments and also Namibia. In all the games you play you want to make it a competitive game of rugby. We want to make sure that our defence is up for it, physically we’re up for it and fitness-wise we’re up for it.”

Wing Alexander Gvozdovskiy was the hero for Russia with two tries against Romania. Yury Kushnarev converted one of them and also landed three penalties in the 21-21 stalemate that ensured the qualification.

Realisation dawns for Russia

“For me this is probably the top of my dreams, to play for my country, my national team and to qualify for the World Cup," admitted wing Vasily Artemyev after the team had earned qualification. “It was a very tough emotional task for the players to play a match at such a high level of expectation as we did against Romania, and to be honest after the final whistle went I felt a bit emptied out.

“Then a couple of days after that the achievement that we’d made started to sink in. It’s only now that we’ve started really talking about it as a team that we understand fully what we have achieved with that result.”

From Europe, the Russians were joined by Georgia in qualifying for the finals on the same weekend after they beat Spain 17-9 at the National Stadium in Tbilisi. It was the Lelos’ seventh victory in their previous eight European Nations Cup matches and guaranteed them a third consecutive World Cup appearance.

New Zealand for Rugby World Cup

Expect New Zealand to be packed during September and October of 2011 in what will be yet another fantastic festival of Rugby with thousands of fanatical but friendly supporters converging on the country and venues as well as taking in the sights in this colourful and different Country.
The previous World Cups were held in Australia and New Zealand (1987), England, France, Scotland, Ireland and Wales (1991), South Africa (1995), Wales, Ireland, England, Scotland and France (1999), Australia(2003), France (2007) and we will be in New Zealand next (2011).

William Webb Ellis Trophy

The winners are awarded the William Webb Ellis Trophy which Australia would have been awarded outright had they won for the third time in 2003, the trophy is named after the man considered the founder of the game.