Question of venue as plan unveiled

Jock Hobbs

The timing may not be ideal, but tomorrow New Zealand officials will present their master plan for hosting the 2011 World Cup to the International Rugby Board in Edmonton.

The presentation, to Rugby World Cup Ltd, the arm of the IRB which oversees the tournament, will take place to a backdrop of robust debate over where the cup final should be played.

Until Tuesday, it seemed a given that Eden Park was inked in. But the Government's announcement that it will review alternatives to Eden Park, which is listed for a $320 million facelift as the centrepiece of the tournament, has thrown up a flurry of speculation.

RWC Ltd, if word of Auckland waterfront development talk has reached them, may have a polite inquiry or two for the New Zealand officials.

The presentation, by Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd, will include detailed planning and budgetary information.

New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs described the presentation as "an early milestone" for the union.

"Obviously the plan and budget were part of the bid process, but it's been refined since then. There's more information and I'm very happy with it," Hobbs said.

"That's not to say there aren't some challenges. There are challenges in Auckland, challenges round Eden Park, key tasks we need to deal with, but we're working through those aspects."

Although the NZRFU restated its support for the Eden Park option on Tuesday, Hobbs said the cup offered the Auckland region an ideal opportunity to upgrade important infrastructure, such as transport and hospitality. For that reason, reviewing all the options was "appropriate", he added.

Hobbs said that the hosting decision for 2011 had been made a couple of years ahead of the normal procedure.

"But that doesn't mean we should be soft in our preparation. There's a lot to do, but I'm happy where we're at and the progress made," he added.

In Edmonton the New Zealand representatives will take in Monday's women's World Cup final when the Black Ferns will face England.