New Zealand wins right to host 2011 Rugby World Cup

**Bad Company** · 11-17-2005, 05:56 PM

FUCK YEAH!

New Zealand has won the right to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup, beating South Africa and Japan in a surprise decision announced this morning.

New Zealand was awarded the hosting rights after voting by the International Rugby Board council in Dublin, Ireland at 5.40am (NZT).

South Africa was eliminated in the first ballot, leaving New Zealand and Japan to battle it out in the second round.

Millar said he had been impressed by the presentation bid put to the council by the New Zealand team containing Prime Minister Helen Clark, Hobbs, NZRU chief executive Chris Moller, All Blacks legend Colin Meads and All Blacks captain Tana Umaga.

Moller had earlier confirmed New Zealand's bid in association with the Government had cost about $3.5 million, half paid for by the taxpayer.

That should be repaid in more than full based on previous World Cup tournaments.

For example, the Australian Rugby Union made a surplus of $47.5 million after hosting the 2003 World Cup.

New Zealand had entered voting widely expected to finish last.

The odds changed when South Africa was eliminated and New Zealand's eventual success contradicted media predictions that Japan's vast economic wealth would tip the balance in its favour.

Millar said he had been impressed by all three tenders considered by the IRB council.

"I think the passion that is in New Zealand rugby came through in different ways from Jock Hobbs, the Prime Minister, Pinetree and Tana Umaga then from Chris who rounded the whole thing off in a very businesslike way," Millar said.

"I think you had an excellent team.

"(The decision) may surprise some people but why should it? New Zealand is a great rugby nation and hosted the Lions comfortably this year.

"It is a proud rugby nation hosting a great tournament."

New Zealand hosted and won the inaugural World Cup in 1987. It lost its sub-hosting rights in 2003 in acrimonious circumstances and Moller had said the bid for the 2011 event could be the last time the NZRU sought to host the tournament due to the costs involved.

New Zealand's selection upset the odds and those who thought the game should move its showpiece event beyond its traditional heartlands.

New Zealand, considered a long way behind in the betting going into today's vote, based its bid on the emotional appeal of a country where rugby is unquestionably the No 1 sport.

It boasted that the successful handling of the Lions tour this year showed it could deal with large numbers of fans despite the limited size of the country's stadiums.

A time zone at odds with European broadcasters was considered a point against the bid but a slick presentation appeared to sway the voting nations.

Japan based its bid on giving rugby the chance to expand beyond its traditional borders.

Having successfully co-hosted the 2002 soccer World Cup as well as other major international sporting events, there was never a question over whether Japan would be able to organise a smoothly run tournament, with stadiums, infrastructure, travel and logistics all guaranteed.

A series of high profile former players came out in favour of the Japan bid, saying it was an opportunity for the game to go truly global.

South Africa won the event on home soil when the country hosted in 1995, the Springboks' first involvement after being previously banned because of the apartheid era.

Its bid was based in part on everything being in place on the back of the 2010 soccer World Cup, ideal time zones for Europe and the guarantee of a large profit for the IRB.

High crime figures and in-fighting within the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) were the major drawbacks but having gone into the vote narrowly behind Japan in the betting, it was a surprise it was eliminated at the first stage.

All three bids guaranteed to provide the IRB with a bigger profit than that raised in Australia two years ago.

In the first phase of voting, when the three bidding countries were not allowed to participate, there were 19 votes available but 12 of those were held by just six countries - England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Australia.

Canada, Italy and Argentina each had one vote while the minor playing nations were represented by the single votes held by the confederations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and Europe.

South Africa, with two votes, joined the process for the second stage after earlier saying it would support New Zealand.

The 2007 World Cup will be held in France, with some matches played in Scotland and Wales.

Japanese Rugby Football Union president Yoshiro Mori, a former Japanese Prime Minister, expressed disappointment over his nation's unsuccessful bid.

"Many people supported our goal of making rugby global," Mori said.

"We did not receive the exact vote but we think that a lot of sympathy was with New Zealand because they weren't able to host the World Cup in 2003.

"All the boys in the meeting were saying that we have to make rugby global. So, why do we have to wait for another five or 10 years to make this happen?"

Japan has only 126,000 registered players in a population of 127 million, but a vast economy and proven ability to stage an elite tournament after the 2002 soccer World Cup.

New Zealand has a population of four million but immense passion for the sport.

NZRU general manager of corporate services, Therese Walsh, said that everyone gathered in a room at the organisation's Wellington headquarters this morning was "walking on clouds right now".

"It's been a long year and we are certainly glad to see the end of the process and an outstanding outcome," she told NZPA.

It had been "a pretty late call" to put New Zealand's tender forward, and with the Lions series in the middle of this year, the organisation had had a "full on year".

"It was a big effort to get that sorted and get the bid to the IRB by Friday the 13th - black Friday! - and we've worked constantly since May."

She credited "frontmen" Hobbs and Moller as being key to clinching the deal, "working the troops over the last few weeks".

"What crunched the deal in my view was the integrity and credibility of Jock Hobbs and Chris Moller out there in the rugby community.

"Obviously we followed that up with lots of hard work and we've done everything we could on lots of levels, but really those two individuals are the significant part of this."

The other winning aspect was the partnership with the New Zealand Government, without which the bid would not have been able to proceed, she said.

The Lions tour had been a great "showcase opportunity" to show international rugby community that New Zealand could put on large event and do it "very, very well".

www.stuff.co.nz

This is so awesome

**Bad Company** · 11-18-2005, 12:15 AM

Keep in mind that this is the 3rd largest sporting event in the world after the Olympics and the Soccer World Cup. This is a huge event for New Zealand.

**Nervous Ferret** · 11-18-2005, 12:16 AM

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

**Cuzziebro** · 11-18-2005, 02:06 AM

Im so going to it, cant wait.

**Sting Fan** · 11-18-2005, 02:32 AM

Hell yeah, this kicks all kinds of ass.

I am so getting finals tickets, I dont care if I have to buy them four years in advance.

**Ogen** · 11-18-2005, 03:56 AM

Mad match times huzzah

**Bad Company** · 11-19-2005, 01:48 AM

early morning for you guys ogen

RP · 11-19-2005, 02:12 AM

Translation for Americans : New Zealand has another reason to get drunk and tear shit up in 2011.

**Supreme Olajuwon** · 11-19-2005, 03:08 AM

I loved watching the 4 AM matches last time. It was a hoot.

**Sting Fan** · 11-20-2005, 11:14 PM

We dont tear shit up.

Its not even worth trying to lie about the drunk one. Although in our defence most kiwis drink light during the game then we get smashed to celebrate a win or get even drunker to drown our sorrows after a loss. Its kind of a win win situation for the fans.

**Y2C** · 11-26-2005, 06:14 PM

What it means is that the government will spend squillions of taxpayers $$$ on doing up the city so that it will look good for tourists, putting in 40,000 extra seats into every stadium THAT YOU WON'T NEED once the event is over, and locking up all of the homeless people into hotels that could have been used by tourists & other people willing to pay money, whilst the tournament is going on.

Congratulations man, but kiwis still fuck sheep.

**Downunder** · 11-27-2005, 08:10 AM

You better hook my up with some tickets BC

**Team Sheep** · 11-27-2005, 11:45 AM

I was dissapointed that Japan couldn't have hosted it, I thought they would have done an awesome job. Still, congratulations.

11-17-2005, 05:56 PM	#1
Bad Company Mad Posts: 26,228	New Zealand wins right to host 2011 Rugby World Cup FUCK YEAH! New Zealand has won the right to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup, beating South Africa and Japan in a surprise decision announced this morning. New Zealand was awarded the hosting rights after voting by the International Rugby Board council in Dublin, Ireland at 5.40am (NZT). South Africa was eliminated in the first ballot, leaving New Zealand and Japan to battle it out in the second round. Millar said he had been impressed by the presentation bid put to the council by the New Zealand team containing Prime Minister Helen Clark, Hobbs, NZRU chief executive Chris Moller, All Blacks legend Colin Meads and All Blacks captain Tana Umaga. Moller had earlier confirmed New Zealand's bid in association with the Government had cost about $3.5 million, half paid for by the taxpayer. That should be repaid in more than full based on previous World Cup tournaments. For example, the Australian Rugby Union made a surplus of $47.5 million after hosting the 2003 World Cup. New Zealand had entered voting widely expected to finish last. The odds changed when South Africa was eliminated and New Zealand's eventual success contradicted media predictions that Japan's vast economic wealth would tip the balance in its favour. Millar said he had been impressed by all three tenders considered by the IRB council. "I think the passion that is in New Zealand rugby came through in different ways from Jock Hobbs, the Prime Minister, Pinetree and Tana Umaga then from Chris who rounded the whole thing off in a very businesslike way," Millar said. "I think you had an excellent team. "(The decision) may surprise some people but why should it? New Zealand is a great rugby nation and hosted the Lions comfortably this year. "It is a proud rugby nation hosting a great tournament." New Zealand hosted and won the inaugural World Cup in 1987. It lost its sub-hosting rights in 2003 in acrimonious circumstances and Moller had said the bid for the 2011 event could be the last time the NZRU sought to host the tournament due to the costs involved. New Zealand's selection upset the odds and those who thought the game should move its showpiece event beyond its traditional heartlands. New Zealand, considered a long way behind in the betting going into today's vote, based its bid on the emotional appeal of a country where rugby is unquestionably the No 1 sport. It boasted that the successful handling of the Lions tour this year showed it could deal with large numbers of fans despite the limited size of the country's stadiums. A time zone at odds with European broadcasters was considered a point against the bid but a slick presentation appeared to sway the voting nations. Japan based its bid on giving rugby the chance to expand beyond its traditional borders. Having successfully co-hosted the 2002 soccer World Cup as well as other major international sporting events, there was never a question over whether Japan would be able to organise a smoothly run tournament, with stadiums, infrastructure, travel and logistics all guaranteed. A series of high profile former players came out in favour of the Japan bid, saying it was an opportunity for the game to go truly global. South Africa won the event on home soil when the country hosted in 1995, the Springboks' first involvement after being previously banned because of the apartheid era. Its bid was based in part on everything being in place on the back of the 2010 soccer World Cup, ideal time zones for Europe and the guarantee of a large profit for the IRB. High crime figures and in-fighting within the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) were the major drawbacks but having gone into the vote narrowly behind Japan in the betting, it was a surprise it was eliminated at the first stage. All three bids guaranteed to provide the IRB with a bigger profit than that raised in Australia two years ago. In the first phase of voting, when the three bidding countries were not allowed to participate, there were 19 votes available but 12 of those were held by just six countries - England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Australia. Canada, Italy and Argentina each had one vote while the minor playing nations were represented by the single votes held by the confederations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and Europe. South Africa, with two votes, joined the process for the second stage after earlier saying it would support New Zealand. The 2007 World Cup will be held in France, with some matches played in Scotland and Wales. Japanese Rugby Football Union president Yoshiro Mori, a former Japanese Prime Minister, expressed disappointment over his nation's unsuccessful bid. "Many people supported our goal of making rugby global," Mori said. "We did not receive the exact vote but we think that a lot of sympathy was with New Zealand because they weren't able to host the World Cup in 2003. "All the boys in the meeting were saying that we have to make rugby global. So, why do we have to wait for another five or 10 years to make this happen?" Japan has only 126,000 registered players in a population of 127 million, but a vast economy and proven ability to stage an elite tournament after the 2002 soccer World Cup. New Zealand has a population of four million but immense passion for the sport. NZRU general manager of corporate services, Therese Walsh, said that everyone gathered in a room at the organisation's Wellington headquarters this morning was "walking on clouds right now". "It's been a long year and we are certainly glad to see the end of the process and an outstanding outcome," she told NZPA. It had been "a pretty late call" to put New Zealand's tender forward, and with the Lions series in the middle of this year, the organisation had had a "full on year". "It was a big effort to get that sorted and get the bid to the IRB by Friday the 13th - black Friday! - and we've worked constantly since May." She credited "frontmen" Hobbs and Moller as being key to clinching the deal, "working the troops over the last few weeks". "What crunched the deal in my view was the integrity and credibility of Jock Hobbs and Chris Moller out there in the rugby community. "Obviously we followed that up with lots of hard work and we've done everything we could on lots of levels, but really those two individuals are the significant part of this." The other winning aspect was the partnership with the New Zealand Government, without which the bid would not have been able to proceed, she said. The Lions tour had been a great "showcase opportunity" to show international rugby community that New Zealand could put on large event and do it "very, very well". www.stuff.co.nz This is so awesome badassmofo HALL OF FAME Heyman Inducted 05-08-07 YOUR Hero Inducted 08-08-07 The Naitch Inducted 04-10-07 Pepsi Man Inducted 25-11-07 RIP Funky Fly Inducted 10-12-07 FakeRazor Inducted 14-12-07 DMI Inducted 20-02-08 Vietnamese Crippler Inducted 21-02-08 Weapon X Inducted 20-06-08 Anybody Thrilla Inducted 04-06-11 Kapoutman Inducted 04-06-11 Sixx Inducted 04-06-11 Downunder Inducted 16-06-12 Zelda Inducted 16-06-12

11-18-2005, 12:15 AM	#2
Bad Company Mad Posts: 26,228	Keep in mind that this is the 3rd largest sporting event in the world after the Olympics and the Soccer World Cup. This is a huge event for New Zealand.

11-18-2005, 12:16 AM	#3
Nervous Ferret love yourself Posts: 47,788	WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

11-18-2005, 02:06 AM	#4
Cuzziebro '11&'15 RWC CHAMPIONS Posts: 1,569	Im so going to it, cant wait.

11-18-2005, 02:32 AM	#5
Sting Fan Blander Than Ever Posts: 3,092	Hell yeah, this kicks all kinds of ass. I am so getting finals tickets, I dont care if I have to buy them four years in advance.

11-18-2005, 03:56 AM	#6
Ogen Posts: 16,220	Mad match times huzzah

11-19-2005, 01:48 AM	#7
Bad Company Mad Posts: 26,228	early morning for you guys ogen

11-19-2005, 02:12 AM	#8
RP King of Love and Piss Posts: 62,991	Translation for Americans : New Zealand has another reason to get drunk and tear shit up in 2011.

11-19-2005, 03:08 AM	#9
Supreme Olajuwon You know that�s right Posts: 52,757	I loved watching the 4 AM matches last time. It was a hoot.

11-20-2005, 11:14 PM	#10
Sting Fan Blander Than Ever Posts: 3,092	We dont tear shit up. Its not even worth trying to lie about the drunk one. Although in our defence most kiwis drink light during the game then we get smashed to celebrate a win or get even drunker to drown our sorrows after a loss. Its kind of a win win situation for the fans.

11-26-2005, 06:14 PM	#11
Y2C Junior Member Posts: 24,994	What it means is that the government will spend squillions of taxpayers $$$ on doing up the city so that it will look good for tourists, putting in 40,000 extra seats into every stadium THAT YOU WON'T NEED once the event is over, and locking up all of the homeless people into hotels that could have been used by tourists & other people willing to pay money, whilst the tournament is going on. Congratulations man, but kiwis still fuck sheep.

11-27-2005, 08:10 AM	#12
Downunder God Bless America Posts: 37,905	You better hook my up with some tickets BC

11-27-2005, 11:45 AM	#13
Team Sheep T�m Defaid Posts: 6,646	I was dissapointed that Japan couldn't have hosted it, I thought they would have done an awesome job. Still, congratulations.