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Rugby World Cup Information - New Zealand to host 2011 Rugby World Cup
New Zealand will play host to the 2011 Rugby World Cup with enthusiastic backing from a nation that's passionate about the game and their heroes, the All Blacks.
More than 60,000 visitors are expected in September and October 2011, and as many as 238 countries could tune in to watch the matches by live broadcast.
It will be the largest global sporting event in 2011 and will kick off in Auckland when New Zealand plays Tonga in a Pool A match.
The economic benefit is likely to add millions of dollars to the local economy with many international visitors using the Rugby World Cup as a reason to make an extended visit to New Zealand.
The 48 matches that comprise the Tournament are scheduled across 13 venues in 13 cities: Auckland, North Shore (Auckland), Whangarei, Hamilton, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill. The four quarter-finals will be hosted in Christchurch and Wellington.
The final, bronze final and both semi-finals will be played at a revamped Eden Park in Auckland where major improvements are underway to upgrade seating, pedestrian and transport access to the iconic rugby venue.
Two of New Zealand's greatest sportsmen have been enlisted to help run the tournament. Former NZ Cricket CEO and international player Martin Sneddon heads the organisation team, and former All Black captain Tana Umaga is heading the 'Front Row Rugby Club' - Tourism New Zealand's campaign to encourage fans to come to NZ for the event.
According to Mr Sneddon "Rugby World Cup is much more than a series of 48 rugby matches. It will be an international festival across New Zealand quite unlike the country has even seen and will attract up to 60,000 international visitors,"
When New Zealand co-hosted the inaugural World Cup of Rugby in 1987 it won the trophy and earned international praise for the successful staging of the event. Organisers want the 2011 event to be even more memorable - "a really good party, New Zealand style".