Five years since RWC 2011 bid victory

MEDIA RELEASE
November 17, 2011

Tomorrow marks another significant Tournament milestone – it will be five years since the International Rugby Board awarded New Zealand the right to host Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011).
After several hours of presentations in Dublin, IRB members voted for New Zealand, who edged out South Africa and Japan for the right to host the seventh Rugby World Cup. The news broke early in the morning of November 18 in New Zealand.
Rugby New Zealand 2011 CEO Martin Snedden was running New Zealand Cricket at the time and recalls the moment.
“It was a surprise for many as New Zealand was not the favourite so it was a terrific moment of celebration. I remember waking up to the news and thinking even then how wonderful it would be to have a Tournament this big in a small country that’s so passionate about the Game.”
Tana Umaga was New Zealand captain at the time and flew from the UK where the All Blacks were on a Grand Slam tour to join the final presentation by the New Zealand Rugby Union bid team.
“They asked me because I was not only All Blacks captain, but also because of my Pacific Island heritage. The point was that this was not a Rugby World Cup for New Zealand, it was a Rugby World Cup for the whole of the Pacific and maybe the last time a small nation could hold the event.
“That struck a real chord with me. I am proud of my Samoan parents and I knew this could be another proud moment for me and my family.”
He remembers staying up all night in his Dublin hotel memorising his speech. “I played a small role and it is something I can be proud of.”
Umaga was part of a heavyweight New Zealand team that included All Blacks legend Colin Meads and then Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Helen Clark flew into Dublin, staying just a matter of hours, to underline the New Zealand Government’s backing for the bid.
“We threw everything at it. There was nothing certain about winning those rights. The Rugby Union felt that if I went as Prime Minister that could be decisive, so how could I say no?
“I think the passion behind the bid, that we were able to go in saying ‘if you bring this Tournament here, there will be a Stadium of Four Million, they’ll be cheering from their homes, their streets and neighbourhoods, in pubs and bars, as well as helping fill the stadia and you’ll get a whole country in behind it.’
“There was a lot at stake but I think we felt that we were very thoroughly prepared, we had the pitch right and that genuinely we had something big to offer for RWC 2011.”
Martin Snedden said the team bringing RWC 2011 to New Zealand had achieved much in the five years since the bid victory.
“Up and down the country, across central and local government, provincial rugby unions, match venues and a host of other organisations, people are pulling together and are really focused on the goal of putting on an excellent Rugby World Cup.
“Tomorrow there will be just 296 days to kick-off. We are well placed to stage a Tournament that we think will capture the hearts and minds of our Stadium of Four Million fans and ensure our visitors are in for a very special time.”
Ends
Note: Tana Umaga’s only interview on the five year anniversary is available at www.rugbyworldcup.com. The video interview with Helen Clark will be posted tomorrow.