Kiwis welcome 20-team RWC
Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:28
New Zealand officials have expressed their delight at the announcement that the 2011 World Cup will be a 20-team tournament. The organisation responsible for planning and delivering Rugby World Cup 2011, Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Ltd, has welcomed the decision by the International Rugby Board (IRB) to maintain the existing 20-team format for 2011. RNZ 2011 boss Martin Snedden said the decision reaffirms the tournament format and will also allow visiting teams, officials and fans to experience New Zealand's "Stadium of Four Million" as envisioned in New Zealand's RWC bid. "The New Zealand Rugby Union [NZRU] bid for RWC 2011 on the basis of a 20-team tournament and all of our initial vision and planning was built around that format," Snedden said. "We are delighted with this outcome which will allow more teams and their fans to experience a World Cup in New Zealand, and will also give us the opportunity to take the tournament further around the country than would have been possible if the tournament had been reduced." While the IRB had been considering the merits of a reduced tournament, this decision maintains a field of 20 teams, which dates back to 1999 and the format which has been in place since 2003. Snedden said the announcement allows RNZ 2011 Ltd and its stakeholders to move forward with certainty on the operational planning around 2011. "New Zealanders will welcome the decision as will the players and fans of some of the smaller rugby nations who proved themselves during the 2007 World Cup and won the hearts of rugby fans in France and around the world. "We look forward to more of the same in 2011." Rugby World Cup 2011 will be held during September and October, with the Final to be held on New Zealand's Labour Day holiday weekend that year (October 22 or 23).
