Nine chase World Cup hosting rights
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Nine nations have submitted bids for the upcoming IRB decision on the hosts for the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups. The IRB will announce the hosts on 28 July 2009 for the 2015 and 2019 World Cups in a first for the IRB.
Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales have submitted bids for the 2015 World Cup, while Australia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and Wales are looking towards the 2019 tournament.
Emirates announced as Rugby World Cup 2011 Major Sponsor
Emirates Airlines have been announced as major sponsor of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Emirates were a major sponsor of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France and have continued their connection with international rugby. Emirates are a major sponsor of the Western Force in the Super 14 and are a major sponsor of global sporting events around the world.
Christchurch to be Wallabies 2011 Rugby World Cup base
Early planning for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand has the Australian Wallabies based in Christchurch.
Although the plans are only preliminary it is likely Christchurch is likely to host the Wallabies enabling Robbie Deans to return hack to the home where he provided the Crusaders with five Super 12/14 championships.
It is expected final plans for where each team will be based will be formally announced towards the end of 2009.
Rugby World Cup 2011 announce venues for finals
The Rugby New Zealand CEO Martin Snedden announced today that Christchurch and Wellington would each host two quarter-finals at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and confirmed the previous plans for the semi-finals and final.
Martin Snedden, the former New Zealand cricketer, now CEO of Rugby New Zealand announced the good news today that Christchurch and Wellington will both host two quarter-finals.
The news has been met with great excitement particularly in Christchurch and is a clear indication of the commitment to ensuring the major rugby destinations outside of Auckland get quality rugby matches at the business end of the tournament.
Snedden, went on to confirm Eden Park in Auckland would host the semi-finals, 3rd placed match and the final. Eden Park was chosen on the basis of it being the biggest available stadium and was a clear choice for the major tournament matches.
The four quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of 7-9 October while the semi-finals will be played on the weekend of 15-16 October.
The bronze final will be staged one or two days prior to the final which is scheduled to be played on the weekend 21-23 October 2011.
The bases for the 20 rugby teams will be announced late in 2009, so watch this space for where your favourite team will be based.
South Africa flag interest in hosting Rugby World Cup
South Africa have indicated they intend to bid for the 2015 or 2019 Rugby World Cup. The South African Rugby board decided at their recent board meeting that they were intending to bid in a hope they will be able to host one of the next two Rugby World Cup’s. The IRB will announce the hosts for the 2015 & 2019 World Cup at the same time next year.
The South African’s may be able to leverage off the Football World Cup in 2010 as the infrastructure will be in place for the South African RUgby board to leverage off in their bid application.
Rugby World Cup 2011 Venues to be Announced
The New Zealand Rugby board will meet next Thursday and finalise the venues and the cities that have secured the hosting rights for the quarterfinals and third place match.
The venue of the final and semi-finals have been secured by Auckland to be held at the new upgraded Eden Park. The Eden Park upgrade will make it comfortably the biggest stadium for the World Cup and the only appropriate stadium that can accomodate a World cup semi-final or final crowd.
Auckand have also bid for the quarter finals and the third and fourth place final. Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington are well placed to pickup a few matches due to their relative sized stadiums and their strong Rugby origins.
Rugby World Cup 2007: Golden Moments All Blacks Haka vs France
I was thinking back to my time at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France and some of the best moments. I will feature some of the golden moments over the next few weeks.
For the first golden moment of the 2007 Rugby World Cup I have chosen the haka performed by the All Blacks against France in the quarter-final at the Millennium Stadium in Wales. This venue is amazing and the vibe and buzz was amazing.
France were playing away from home for the first time in the World Cup and it was widely expected New Zealand would win the match and knock France out. The home quarter final France were expected to get was taken by Argentina who shocked the Rugby world by beating France on the opening night of the World Cup.
The haka against France was perhaps the most impressive I have seen. The intensity between both teams was amazing and the French edging towards the All Blacks during the haka was spine tingling. The lasting image for me is of Sebastien Chabal.
Check out the clip below featured on You Tube.