New Zealand offer quake assurance

WITH a year to go to Rugby World Cup 2011, tournament organisers in New Zealand says preparations are well on track, despite last week’s earthquake near Christchurch.

More than 100,000 homes were damaged in and around the South Island city, which will be one of the focal points for next year’s tournament.

Yet Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden insisted: “The foundations are being laid for a tournament all New Zealanders will be proud of.