New Zealand will bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup after the rugby union secured government backing, New Zealand Rugby Union chairperson Jock Hobbs said on Wednesday.
Hobbs said the New Zealand bid, which will be lodged with the International Rugby Board before Friday’s deadline, will be ”comprehensive and compelling”.
Sports Minister Trevor Mallard, joining Hobbs at a news conference, said the government would contribute 20-million New Zealand dollars ($14,6-million) to the cost of the tournament, if New Zealand’s bid was successful.
The NZRU would spend an additional NZ$10-million ($7,3-million).
”I am very proud that New Zealand is in a position to put a compelling case forward to the IRB to host the Rugby World Cup here in 2011,” Mallard said.
”In New Zealand, rugby is more than just a sport — it has helped shape the character of our nation.”
Hobbs said New Zealand’s passion for rugby was an integral part of its bid.
”New Zealanders are passionate about their rugby and that passion is one of the key assets of our bid,” Hobbs said.
”While we are a small country, we make up for that in other ways. We are a stadium of four million people!”
Japan has already lodged a bid for the 2011 tournament and South Africa, which hosted the 1995 World Cup, is also expected to nominate.
New Zealand hosted and won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 but failed in a bid to co-host the 2003 tournament with Australia.
The main drawback in New Zealand’s bid is perceived to be its lack of large stadiums and its ability to cope with many thousands of foreign tourists.
New Zealand has only one stadium able to seat more than 40 000 spectators. – Sapa-AP