Stop the Stadium

Rugby Heaven, 4 September 2008

Christchurch and Wellington were confirmed as the two cities to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, ensuring the plan to envelop the country with the tournament would be achieved for the business-end of the event.

Auckland’s Eden Park was named to host the play-off for third as well as both semifinals and the final.
Martin Snedden, CEO, Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd confirmed the play-offs venues at an announcement in Wellington on Thursday afternoon.

The decisions were backed by the International Rugby Board despite earlier suggestions they were wanting Eden Park to have two quarter-finals….

Venues for the 40 pool matches will be announced next March or April and Snedden said they would cover the country.

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Rugby Heaven, 29 August 2008

Four Government MPs based in Christchurch have written to organisers of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand calling for two quarter-finals to be held in the South Island.

Labour MPs Tim Barnett, Lianne Dalziel, Ruth Dyson and Progressive leader Jim Anderton said it was important to recognise the rest of the country, outside Auckland.

“If the South Island cannot host either semifinal, which we accept is the reality due to the logistics of moving so many people to Auckland for the final, then Christchurch should host two quarterfinals to reinforce that it is New Zealand, not just Auckland, that is hosting the Rugby World Cup.”

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NewstalkZB, 28 August 2008

The much anticipated decision on quarter-final and bronze medal match venues for the 2011 Rugby World Cup will be made next week.

World Cup organising boss Martin Snedden will make the announcement next Thursday, following a Rugby World Cup Board meeting that morning.

The semi-finals and the final have already been confirmed for Auckland.

Rugby officials outside Auckland have previously pushed to have all quarter-finals played in Wellington and Christchurch.

» Read news item here…