RUGBY WORLD CUP

News | Fixtures | Tickets

Auckland want more in 2011

Thursday 17th July 2008

Eden Park: The goldmine found at the end of a rainbow

As if the final and semi-finals weren't enough, Auckland has also joined the 2011 Rugby World Cup race to hold a quarter-final and the third place play-off match at Eden Park in New Zealand.

Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington have all applied to host quarter-finals, whilst Auckland have also joined Hamilton in their bid for the "bronze final" between the losing semi-finalists.

Auckland has proposed either Eden Park or North Harbour Stadium as a venue for the match that would determine who comes third in the tournament.

Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd chief executive Martin Snedden said regions were putting forward passionate cases to host these prime matches.

The applications would be scrutinised and visits made to the four regions over the coming weeks, he said.

The board will review the applications on August 12 and then put forward a recommendation for consideration by Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL).

The RWCL board will meet on September 3 to make these allocation decisions, with an announcement expected shortly afterwards.

RWCL's stated preference is to host the quarter-finals in two cities, however, it had an "open mind about hosting the quarter-finals in three venues as was the case at RWC 2007", Snedden told NZPA.