Your views on Rugby World Cup 2011

Opinion

Fantastic! What a great result for New Zealand and what a vote of confidence in the NZRFU and their team. Let's now work on getting things right. Cruise liners doubling as accommodation is only a novel idea for so long, let's ensure there we have reasonable accommodation available for the world's rugby fans. The Lions tour acted as "learner slopes" for transporting fans to and from games. Celebrating a victory or commiserating a loss will be expected, let's ensure our drinking establishments can accommodate these emotions, past 12pm. This doesn't have to be NZ's last Cup. Get these things right and who knows, maybe one day we too will have our own covered stadium.
- Steve, NZ

I think this is a travesty for international rugby. The IRB and the leaders of the member unions had a fantastic opportunity to truly take this game onto a global stage, however all they have done is given the votes to the old school tie. From a commercial, logistical and most importantly rugby perspective hosting the World Cup in Japan would have ensured rugby's continued viability for decades, and truly opened up new markets for our great game. New Zealand, while boasting a passionate rugby community, unfortunately is not up to the standard to host this. Most importantly however, the NZRFU has shown how it lacks the ability and professionalism to be organising an event of this size, as we saw with their botched handling of the sub-licencing rights in 2003.
- Chris

What a great feeling waking up this morning to hear this on the news. It's going to be so good for New Zealand on all fronts. Now just to make some tough decisions on venues. It's time to sell off the land at Eden Park and build a new stadium in downtown Auckland with plenty of parking, public transport and fantastic facilities - if Cardiff can do it - so can we!
- Rupert, NZ

This can only be good for rugby and NZ and bring the country together as an united nation in front of the world rugby arena and international community.
- Rob, NZ

Great news for New Zealand and NZ Rugby. As Jock Hobbs stated we've been promoting rugby around the globe for the last 100 years, just look at the number of Kiwi players, coaches and administrators plying their trade around the world. A World Cup in NZ will be better for rugby's global aspirations than a World Cup in Japan. Well done NZRU Board.
- Paul Singh

Finally NZers have won something. Let's hope you guys can get to the final this time and, God forbid, win it. Us Aussies (the greatest sporting nation on earth per capita) have been there 3 times and the only country to win it twice. If we can't win it, go South Africa or England I say.
- Jim Tealana, Australia

Rugby fan or not, you the voter need to pressure local government to sort out public transportation. Six years is enough time to get tracks laid, park and ride stations built for bus and trains. Auckland Airport really needs an express train to the inner city. The cities must have an effective train system to access each major stadium. It can be done. Vancouver Skytrain has proven it. only your leaders can change it. so do your country a favour and write them a letter now!
- James, Canada

Hope NZ has learnt from the Lions tour and will sort out proper transport to Eden Park instead of the shambles at the Britomart for the Auckland v Lions game. Sadly the same happened at the BOP v Lions game when most people had to walk back to Rotorua due to lack of buses. Let's get it right and not become a laughing stock on the World stage.
- Phil

Good news, but I went to NZ on the Lions tour and frankly it wasn't welcoming. The people are great, but the press was nasty and juvenile, the motels out of date, the public transport non-existent, and the stadia small, cramped and broken down - and that's coming from an Irishman in Ireland. You need to do a lot of work guys, and try to make people feel welcome. Scenery isn't enough, and you have grow up as a nation or we won't come.
- Peter McQueeny, Ireland

Great result for New Zealand and good to see an event of such huge proportions come back to the home of grass roots rugby.
- Tim Smith, NZ

Great outcome. It is overdue and good that we are hosting it alone. Too many pessimists limit us with big events thinking we have to have a big economy. New Zealanders are smart and innovative and will do it style, just as they did with the America's cup.
- Paul, NZ

The best decision was made last night. The IRB owes it to New Zealand to host RWC2011 not because of the RWC2003 debacle but for the All Blacks making the game as popular as it is over the years. I look forward to coming home to NZ to attend the games.
- Ross, Australia

What a thing to wake up to! Congratulations to the NZRFU and to all New Zealanders! We will definitely remember this day for a long, long time. It is a something that is well deserved.
- Kal, NZ

The presentation team have done a great job in nailing down the bid, but it has to be said the tough stuff starts now we'll have to bring many of the more regional facilities up to international standards. We've been given the opportunity by the NZRFU, let's show to them we can live up to their confidence in us. Go NZ 2011!
Scott

Congratulations New Zealand! Well done indeed. I am eagerly looking forward to 2011. New Zealand is rugby and rugby is New Zealand.
- Susan, NZ

Congratulations to all involved especially the Kiwi public who made the Lions tour so special. The Lions tour set the tone for an even bigger better World Cup event. I want to go out and start building a new stadium myself.
- Mike, Auckland

FANtastic! Lets just hope our public transport can cope with the huge volume of fans moving around the country. A great motivation to get back home to New Zealand by 2011! Can't wait.
- Hori, Stirling, Scotland

Congratulation to the NZRFU, certainly makes up for events in the past. We have been given a fantastic opportunity to host a top class event and so we all need to grab it with both hands and do whatever we can to make it work. This is a chance particularly for Auckland to get a much needed upgrade to transport facilities that have been under strain point with the population growth. We have time and I'm sure we can do it. Well done.
- Andy Schmidt, NZ

Well done, I know all New Zealanders will stand as one and support this great achievement and honour at hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Can't wait to see it all come together.
- Debbie Kehoe, NZ

Yes, there are 4 million kiwis proud to be given this chance, but how many will actually get tickets to see their heroes. Tickets will be so expensive that only the wealthy and those receiving ticket allocations from overseas will get to see the games live. And also only those with pay TV will be able see it live. The people that will be happy will be Sky TV, hotels, sponsors, the people who don't really care about the game, just the money. Go the ABs! (Anyway, I enjoy listening to it on the radio. Yeah, right!)
- Sharon Young, NZ

I'm personally appalled at not only the decision but the over-emotional, over the top reaction. Not all NZers are into rugby. Some of us have a life outside of rugby. To some of us, rugby is a four-letter word. We don't have the infrastructure to host this tournament. Should've gone to the Japanese.
- Bill Williams

Will New Zealand be ready with stadiums to cope with the huge number of fans and be up to international standard? Let's hope so. I have only heard of a proposed extension to the ASB stand at Eden Park. How about North Harbour stadium becoming what it should be - a 50,000 seater! wait with anticipation to see what we can produce. And remember to keep those advertisers happy.
- Matt O'Sullivan

I came to NZ on the Lions tour and stayed on as it's a great place. From a rugby perspective a good decision but from a travelling fans perspective lets hope that the public transport goes from non existent for a First World nation to something like the Aussies' public transport systems. But NZ has time and Kiwis are great people, I'm sure it'll be a great success.
- Henry Thornhill, NZ

Absolutely stoked that New Zealand will be hosting the cup in 2011. This will give our country a real boost and we all need that after the recent election but congrats to all those that represented New Zealand's bid at the announcement this morning!
- Eugene Coneglan, UK

I think it's the best decision for all the players and fans of rugby. They will travel around the country knowing there is a World Cup on. In Japan, they would only know once they got into the stadium. Our nation will stop, whereas Japanese would carry on working around it.
- Fendall, NZ

OHMIGOD, what a fantastic day for all NZers. Thank you to all involved for your efforts in getting such a great result! BRING ON 2011!!!
- Michelle, NZ

Congratulations to the NZRFU and to the whole of New Zealand. We have hosted the World Cup in 1987 before and we will do it again in 2011. We will put New Zealand on the map and in the mouths of people all over the world. Once again well done Kiwis...and let's begin the work!
- Barney

What a coup for NZ - no doubt the success has been due to the careful planning by NZRFU and their nominated speakers. I was never in doubt that NZ would be successful in our bid. Having said that, NZ now has six years to get improved infrastructures in place ie...public transport, accommodation, stadia. With local and national government involved, I hope they get their act together and don't jeopardise the organisation.
- Toni Raniera, Australia

Sir Jock Hobbs and Sir Chris Moller! A great day to be a Kiwi - and great motivation to return home before 2011. Well done to all the team...a final at Lancaster Park/Jade Stadium is long overdue.
- Steve Knight, Czech Republic

Absolutely awesome. The IRB has made the right decision - we will do a GRAND job at hosting and winning the almighty cup. Awesome effort by our team of presenters.
- Paul Hancock, NZ

All very well and exciting...but Aucklanders will be the ones paying for it given that the region has three stadia that can be used for the event but will all need upgrades.
- Emma

Fantastic result - now it is up to all Kiwis to get behind the NZRFU and the ABs to prove that not only can we host it successfully we can win it as well.

1987 all over again but bigger, brighter and better
- Dee, NZ

I think the outcome is just absolutely fantastic.
- 'Kiwigal', NZ 

There is absolutely no way that NZ could do a better job than the Japanese. In resources, motivation, logistics and future benefits for the sport, Japan was the better choice.
- Jeff

Woooooooooo hoooooooooo, bring it on!!!!
-  Jock, New Zealand

Congrats to the Kiwis. We are disappoionted we lost but we know your country is a fantastic rugby supporting nation and that RWC 2011 will be a fantastic tournament. Final score on the day: SA 25 - NZ 21. Cheers and see you there.
- Nick, South Africa

An absolutely fabulous decision. Even better than the ABs recent results! Hearty congatulations to all involved in getting NZ across the line.
- John Buchanan