New Zealand to use tour to stake claim to host World Cup

NEW ZEALAND will use the Grand Slam tour of the northern hemisphere to stake a claim to hosting the 2011 World Cup.

The inaugural tournament was held in New Zealand and, as expected, the All Blacks became the first champions. Since then, the tournament has taken place in Britain and Ireland, South Africa, Britain and Ireland and Australia, with France as the 2007 hosts.

New Zealand missed out on acting as part hosts for the 2003 World Cup because they were unable to convince the International Rugby Board of an ability to piece together a satisfactory financial package.

Also, they were at loggerheads with the Australians as to the mix required to host the tournament.

Now, in the week leading up to the country’s first attempt at a Grand Slam this side of the world since 1978, and in advance of an IRB meeting in Dublin to decide the destination (South Africa and Japan have also put in strong bids), the NZRU has rolled out a host of international personalities to state their case.

The media guide prepared for the current four country tour includes messages from All Black legends Colin Meades, Wilson Whineray, Brian Lochore, Jock Hobbs and David Kirk, as well as current coach Graham Henry, all of whom provide different reasons why the tournament should be held in New Zealand.

The product is embellished by a message from the Right Honourable Helen Clark, Prime Minister, who says: “New Zealand is a stadium of four million people. Per capita, rugby participation is the highest in the world; there may be no other country to equal our passion for the game. New Zealand is politically and economically stable.

“It’s a country that people want to visit; the atmosphere will be electric, the weather mild. It’s the perfect combination for the creation of outstanding rugby.”

Given that South Africa has already hosted a more recent World Cup, the IRB is expected to have to choose between New Zealand, the traditionalists in the game, or Japan, who managed brilliantly in hosting a soccer World Cup.

There will be mixed feelings when the IRB members sit down to finalise their plans in Dublin later this month. What they have to decide is whether to keep it traditional or to broaden the scope of the game.

Had New Zealand joined the Australians in 2003, they would hardly be in the running for this one. As it is, they will probably win. Japan might be thrown the crumbs for 2015, but the heavyweights from the northern hemisphere will be back for a show of strength then.

It’s all about big money these days, and nobody wants to lose out.