Christchurch has been given the nod to host two RWC quarter-finals. Photo / Christchurch Star
Waikato has been left downcast after failing to secure any finals matches in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Christchurch and Wellington will each host two lucrative quarter-finals, with Auckland to host the bronze final match, it was announced yesterday.
Auckland had already won rights to host the final
and semifinals.
Waikato had held hopes of getting the bronze playoff match, but Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden told the Herald it ultimately lost out over the financial realities of stadium sizes.
If they had gone a different way, and given two of the quarter-finals to Auckland rather than Wellington or Christchurch, then Hamilton would have been in with a strong chance of hosting the bronze match, Snedden said.
The decision to go with Christchurch and Wellington was based around the "stadium of four million" philosophy - the main plank the cup bid was built on.
Sport Waikato chief executive and former All Black Matthew Cooper despaired at what he thought was a "no brainer" for the bronze match. "One of the key elements of this game is to create a spectacle and my concern is if you've got a 60,000-seat stadium for a bronze medal game one of the key things you've got to do is pack the park," he said.
"And with the decision to go to Eden Park it will most probably challenge what atmosphere might be created."
Hamilton City councillor Kay Gregory held no grudge against Auckland, but called the decision "disappointing". "It's just a shame as we have such a rugby-supporting public in Hamilton and the Waikato."
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said the quarter-final allocations were a recognition of Canterbury's rugby heritage and an expression of confidence in the region.
Wellington spokesman, city councillor John Morrison, said those involved in the bid were thrilled.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
